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.

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

Media professional Kaveri Baruah has withdrawn her statements regarding the “dos and don’ts” of meeting Telugu star Allu Arjun and issued a public apology.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

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. 

The film will mark the director's first on-screen collaboration with Dhanush. Dhanush also has 

 directed by Vignesh Raja and starring Mamitha Baiju, awaiting a release date. The upcoming film is headed for a summer 2026 release and is written by Vignesh Raja and Alfred Prakash. Theni Eswar, Sreejith Sarang and Mayapandi will make up the remaining technical crew. 

Dhanush Gets Legal Notice From Sri Thenandal Films 

 released a glimpse from the film to mark Valentine's Day. But with a twist. The colour red, which is usually associated with the day, comes in the form of blood in the action film's teaser. The video opens with brief introductions of Parvati (Sanjana Krishnamoorthy), Chandra (Wamiqa Gabbi) and Devadas (Lokesh Kanagaraj) navigating bloodbath and yearning. 

The dialogue-free teaser pays homage to Park Chan-wook's 

 by featuring Lokesh Kanagaraj slashing the throats of gangsters in a hallway. The film, written and directed by Matheswaran, will have music by Anirudh Ravichander. 

The film's title teaser was released earlier last year. In the video, Kanagaraj is introduced as Devadas in a signature back shot, like the filmmaker introduced his characters in the movie 

. We also see him walking down the narrow corridor of a lodge, carrying a blood-soaked knife. Wamiqa Gabbi’s character, Chandra, can be seen picking a condom packet as she sees Devdas make his way towards her. The teaser also ends with a still from the Hollywood classic 

(1967), suggesting that the duo could be criminals who work together. The score, by Anirudh, is already popular with the title teaser amassing 2.5 million views in just one day. 

The upcoming Tamil film will be produced by Sun Pictures. 

 recently clarified the reasons for the delay of his film 

, a sequel to his hit 2019 film starring Karthi. Lokesh was supposed to direct the sequel right after 

. Opening up about the delay, speaking at a press conference in Chennai, the Tamil filmmaker said that work on 

. He said that the film was first pushed when he took time off to work on a script that was meant to star both 

. It was during this preparation period that the makers of 

 and Karthi decided to give the dates that were allotted to 

'DC' Teaser: Lokesh Kanagaraj and Wamiqa Gabbi Lead A Drama With Blood, Gore, and Longing

After a lot of speculation about his debut in India, Kanye West- now known as Ye, has announced his show in New Delhi on March 29, 2026 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

This announcement lands at a moment when Ye’s public journey has been as much about controversy as it has about artistic reinvention. Over the past couple of years, the 24-time Grammy winner’s public persona has undergone a turbulent evolution from issuing provocative statements, releasing divisive new material and sparking global debate, to a full-page apology placed in 

in late January 2026, in which he addressed antisemitic remarks and acknowledged periods of “losing touch with reality” amid untreated bipolar disorder. Despite all this, the continuing demand for his live presence underscores a polarising appeal.

That apology, and its reception, has become part of Ye’s current narrative: his name dominating headlines not just for the music he makes but the cultural conversations he ignites. In recent weeks, the rapper-producer has been booked for European stadium dates, including a June 6 show at the Gelredome in the Netherlands marking his first major European performances in over a decade.

Fans who have followed Ye’s career know his live history reads like a map of modern pop culture. His earlier headline runs, such as the now-legendary Yeezus Tour (2013–14), were grand theatrical productions, complete with bespoke staging, bespoke visuals and a setlist that crisscrossed his catalogue from Kanye’s early 2000s classics to his experimental later work.

Against this backdrop, India’s announcement feels particularly consequential. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which has grown into a premier stop for global touring heavyweights, hosted Travis Scott’s landmark concert late last year, and Ye’s arrival suggests promoters are targeting audiences hungry for renowned international acts.

Tickets are expected to sell out quickly as anticipation builds among longtime fans. For an artist whose career has sparked debate as fiercely as devotion, Ye’s India debut could be one of 2026’s most talked-about performances.

The event is organised by Whitefox, Plush Entertainment & Wizcraft aligning leading production forces to deliver a stadium showcase at global benchmark scale. Tickets go live on 18th February at 4:00 PM exclusively via District by Zomato.

Kanye West Announces Debut India Show in March 2026

It’s difficult to shake off Sudip Sharma's 

. The heaviness—of the people, the system and the sense of a place closing in on itself—outlives the final frame. That world is the result of careful, department-by-department design, which has already made the Mona Singh-Barun Sobti-led show among the most acclaimed titles in recent times.

The new season—directed by Sharma and Faizal Rehman and written by Gunjit Chopra, Diggi Sisodia and Sharma—expands the geography and the ensemble without altering the show’s interior gaze. The investigation now moves across Punjab, with a cast of 150 actors forming its core.

spoke to casting director Nikita Grover, Director of Photography Isshaan Ghosh and Production Designer Mukund Gupta about what went behind building the second season from the ground up.

Casting | Three Months On The Road And 800 Auditions

, much like her process for the 2023 season, Grover went back to Punjab, thinking familiarity would shorten the process. “I went in feeling really confident that I had already been there, so it would be easy this time,” she says. 

The recce turned into another three to three-and-a-half months of constant travel all over Punjab. "There are places where people can’t even imagine auditions can happen. We went there!"

Casting for this season began in Mumbai as some of the new characters (Sam Bajwa played by Rannvijay Singha and Preet, played by Pooja Bhamrrah) carried a distinctly urban life, so they didn’t want to cast those in Punjab. Once those were locked, Grover moved base.

From there, the search widened again, and with it, the realisation of how limited the visible casting pool for Punjabi actors still is. “In regional films, you see the same four or five faces. Most others are living through theatre. When we reached smaller towns, people were shocked that auditions were happening!" Grover says.

By the end of the process, Grover had auditioned around 700 to 800 actors, out of which she cast roughly 150 to 160 characters. "Some didn’t make it to the final cut, but that is the scale of the world," she adds.

Not every part revealed itself easily. The character of Rakesh Kumar (played by Satyakam Anand) took really long to cast, so did that of Sam. While one of her personal victories was to cast Parminder Pal Kaur, a 73-year-old actor facing the camera for the first time as Harsimrat Atwal. “She has done theatre all her life in Punjab. So for her, this was her first screen work! It was also such a joy to cast Pradhuman Singh Mall, who plays Mona Singh's husband."

When asked about the unassuming Jaideep Ahlawat cameo on the show, Grover laughs and says the appearance happened outside the design of the show. He had come to visit the set and asked if he could do the part. “I actually got angry because I had cast someone,” she says, laughing. “He said, can I just do this? And everyone was like, 'OMG! You will do this?!'"

Cinematography | Letting The Place Dictate The Frames

Isshaan Ghosh did not begin with visual references for 

The DOP says he dislikes following references, as one loses the essence of the place when approached with already decided images. Ghosh, instead, likes to take inspiration from the locations, actors and the story. For this season, the mood came from the material and from winter in Punjab. 

“The story is pretty grim and Punjab does have that side. So we kept high-contrast lighting. The images are softer because of the fog, but the shadows are deeper. When the sun is there, it is harsher. It was about replicating winter as truthfully as possible.” For Ghosh, the visual language had to reflect the inner weather of the characters. “There is a fogginess in their lives and that had to come across.”

His approach to cinematography on a show like 

was deliberately functional, where it was not about constantly trying to make everything look "the best." The most visually appealing frame might not have the greatest impact. What matters is the punch the audience feels," he says. The stillness of the show comes from extensive preparation rather than from minimal effort. 

“We had a very detailed shot breakdown. We went through each scene bit by bit and designed it properly. We had a three to four-month prep. So when we hit day one, we knew exactly what we were going to do.” 

The look of the show was developed in close conversation with production design and costume. “Mukund helped me immensely in deciphering the palette and keeping it true to Punjab,” he says. “Without that, it wouldn’t have looked like this.”

Production Design | Spaces That Carry Memory

Mukund Gupta’s brief was clear from the beginning: The show wasn't going to be a postcard of Punjab. “We weren’t interested in mustard fields or celebratory excess. The environment had to carry the same weight as the characters," he shares.

"For me, the word that anchored everything was 'interiority.' The landscapes are expansive, but the emotional world is suffocating. So we built a Punjab that feels weathered—damp walls, aging concrete, half-finished houses funded by remittances, rooms that hold memory and silence. The horror in 

is embedded in everyday spaces—police stations, homes, farms. That urgency comes from making the world feel uncomfortably real," he says.

The production design team consciously desaturated the visual palette. So, even when colour appears, it’s muted by dust, fog, or decay. The idea was that nothing feels decorative and everything feels inhabited. The world had to feel like it existed long before the camera arrived and would continue long after, Gupta informs.

The research began with immersion in small towns and peri-urban areas of Punjab—observing architecture, textures, paint, signage, wiring, furniture and even how people modify their homes over time. 

"A lot of attention went into transitional spaces — verandas, terraces, unfinished staircases — because they tell stories about aspiration and migration. We also researched police infrastructure — not just official layouts but how these spaces evolve through use. Files pile up, repairs are makeshift, furniture is mismatched. That sense of organic disorder was important."

Restraint then became the central challenge, Gupta notes, and the effort was to ensure that the sets couldn’t become theatrical backdrops. "There’s also the emotional challenge of working on material that’s this heavy; they had to support performances without overwhelming them. The production design had to breathe quietly beneath the narrative. In many ways, 

 is about what lies beneath surfaces—socially and psychologically— so the design philosophy followed the same idea."

Exclusive | Building 'Kohrra 2': 800 Auditions, That Lived-In Punjab Feel and Jaideep Ahlawat's Cameo

This week has something for everyone—whether it's romance, action, comedy, sci-fi, or drama. We have 

, a deeply unsettling courtroom drama starring Taapsee Pannu and Kani Kusruti, and Anurag Kashyap's 

, a gritty neo-noir crime-thriller, finally gets its India release. On the other end of the spectrum, we have 

 an endearing romance drama that explores the peculiarities of modern love in urban India. Finally, a special mention for family entertainers releasing this week: 

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