Home Blog Page 4

“Varun Dhawan Can’t Become Salman Khan”: Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya Criticizes ‘Chunnari Chunnari’ Remake

The recreated version of Chunnari Chunnari from the latest David Dhawan’s directorial Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai has created strong reactions online. While some viewers enjoyed the fresh version, many fans felt the original charm was missing and now, this peppy track’s original singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya has openly shared his disappointment over the remake.

The original song from Biwi No. 1 (1999) featured Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor and Sushmita Sen and became one of the biggest hits of the late 1990s. Speaking to ANI, Abhijeet said, “Yeh gaana Salman ki life ka biggest song tha. Jab aayi thi, tab se ab tak trending hai. Salman Khan ki life ka sabse bada hit hai Chunnari Chunnari.”

“Varun Dhawan Salman Khan Nahi Ban Sakta”
Talking about the recreated version featuring Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur, Abhijeet did not hold back. He said, “The actor has only done second-hand films, especially when his father directed the original films. He also uses the same songs that were once a hit. Varun Dhawan iss gaane se Salman Khan nahi ban sakta.”

The singer further added, “There is a big difference between Salman Khan and Varun Dhawan.”

Abhijeet also revealed that nobody from the film’s team contacted him before recreating the track. He admitted that even if they had approached him, he would have thought carefully before agreeing.

“They Turned It Into A Bhajan”
Reacting to the arrangement of the remix, the veteran singer joked, “Chunnari Chunnari was originally a romantic track, and they have now turned it into a bhajan.”

The recreated version has also sparked discussions online regarding Bollywood’s growing trend of remixing old songs instead of creating fresh music.

Directed by David Dhawan, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde and is scheduled to release on June 5.

ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut Strongly Backs Aishwarya Rai After Cannes Trolls Target Her Looks: “If You Are Not Used To Seeing Older…”


Kangana Ranaut Strongly Backs Aishwarya Rai After Cannes Trolls Target Her Looks: “If You Are Not Used To Seeing Older…”

While many celebrities made headlines at the Cannes Film Festival 2026, one name that grabs major attention as always is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan! Amid conversations around her red carpet appearances, Aishwarya Rai received strong support from actress-politician Kangana Ranaut, who openly backed the Cannes veteran through a powerful Instagram story.

Aishwarya, who has represented L’Oréal Paris globally for years appeared at Cannes in multiple outfits this year. Her first look featured a breathtaking sculptural blue gown designed by Amit Aggarwal. Later, she also wore a gorgeous pastel pink couture outfit by Sophie Couture and ended the festival with a bold white feathered pantsuit look that caught major attention.

However, like every year social media reactions remained divided. While many were in awe of her appearance, a section of users criticised her fashion choices. Reacting to this, Kangana Ranaut shared Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s picture on Instagram and strongly defended her.

She wrote, “Fashion and style is a self expression, it is one’s own interpretation of life and their attitude, no woman owes anything to anyone, Ash looks great!!” The actress further questioned the criticism and added, “Those of you who want to see her any other way, why don’t you show what you got??”

Later in her statement, Kangana added, “She is not here to please you, she is glorious, if you are not used to seeing older women on red carpets, get used to them now. Thanks.”

Apart from Aishwarya’s outfits, like always her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan also became a talking point after making her red carpet appearance alongside her mother during the festival.

This year marked Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s 24th appearance at Cannes, continuing her long association with the global film festival.

ALSO READ: Ram Charan On Why Peddi Felt Like The Story He Had To Tell: ‘It Reminded Me Of The Soil I Come From’

Ram Charan On Why Peddi Felt Like The Story He Had To Tell: ‘It Reminded Me Of The Soil I Come From’

The journey of Peddi is ultimately more than just Ram Charan’s next big film. It is increasingly beginning to look like a conscious return to the cultural soil that shaped him.

After the global visibility of RRR, international appearances, Hollywood conversations and worldwide recognition, many expected Ram Charan to continue pursuing polished pan-India spectacles. Instead, the actor chose a rooted rural drama directed by Buchi Babu Sana, a filmmaker known for charged stories steeped in local identity and class realities.

From the very first glimpse of Peddi, Charan’s transformation has stood out. Gone is the composed, royal physicality associated with RRR. In its place is a rough-edged man with unkempt hair, mud-covered skin and the physical exhaustion of someone whose destiny is shaped by his labour rather than his privilege.

The actor has repeatedly said that the emotional pull of Peddi came from how familiar the world felt to him.

Speaking about the film, Ram Charan said the project connected to him because of its rootedness. “There was something very honest about the world of Peddi. The people, the environment, the emotions, none of it felt manufactured to me. I have grown up watching people like this, speaking to people like this. Somewhere, it reminded me of the soil and culture I have always carried within me.”

That connection appears to have shaped his performance and the way he approached the character physically. Unlike the stylised mass heroes dominating large-scale commercial cinema today, Peddi seems grounded in the body language of working-class Andhra men, be it wrestlers, athletes, labourers and villagers whose strength comes from survival.

Industry insiders say Charan was involved in preserving the authenticity of the character’s dialect and physicality. Several portions of the film were reportedly shot in harsh outdoor conditions, with the actor choosing realism over personal comfort in order to maintain the texture Buchi Babu wanted.

The decision is crucial because Peddi arrives at a time when audiences are increasingly craving regional flavours instead of generic pan-Indian storytelling. The film’s imagery is stark – village cricket, wrestling pits, mud fields and emotionally charged crowd sequences, that leans heavily into Telugu nativity rather than trying to smooth it out for broader markets.

For Ram Charan, that appears to have been part of the attraction. He says, “After travelling so much and seeing how people across the world responded to Indian cinema, I realised something very important – the more specific and rooted we are, the more universal the emotion becomes. Peddi is extremely local in its spirit, and that is exactly why I felt strongly about doing it.”

That philosophy shows a larger shift currently happening in Telugu cinema, where stars are increasingly embracing stories tied to geography, dialect and community identity rather than chasing culturally neutral spectacle.

In many ways, Peddi represents Ram Charan at his most stripped-down: less concerned with image, more interested in emotional texture. The film does not position him as a distant larger-than-life figure. Instead, it places him directly in the mud, sweat and chaos of rural life. And that is what makes Peddi one of the most intriguing films of his career so far. For all the scale surrounding the project, its emotional hook seems surprisingly intimate, it is about a global star reconnecting with the world he never really left behind.

Must Read: “Ayodhya Has Chosen Me”: Ranbir Kapoor Buys Premium Land Near Sarayu River Ahead Of Ramayana Release

Chand Mera Dil Movie Review: A Circuitous Route To The Moon & Back

Chand Mera Dil Cast/Actors: Ananya Panday & Lakshya

Chand Mera Dil Director: Vivek Soni

Chand Mera Dil Production House: Dharma Productions

Chand Mera Dil Release Date: 22nd May, 2026

Chand Mera Dil Available On: Theatrical Release (likely to be released on JioHotstar OTT Platform)

Chand Mera Dil Released/Available In Languages: Hindi

Chand Mera Dil Runtime: 2h 26m

Chand Mera Dil Critic Movie Review:

When the end is obvious with a title that gives away where the hero is headed, writer-director Vivek Soni’s screenplay should’ve been dramatically different, offering an unseen experience at every major turn.

Let’s check how he goes about it. It’s one long predictable flashback to Hyderabad where Chandni (Ananya Panday) and Aarav (Lakshya) are engineering students, both brilliant. There’s a fresh touch to the attraction where they twin every day, wearing the same colour, without a word exchanged between them. Until Chandni takes the first step.

So far, rather nice.

The good is that there is definite chemistry between Chandni and Aarav, leading to relatable intimacy.

What’s not fresh is the emotional baggage each carries about their respective families. Yes, yes, Karan Johar and Dharma. We know that domestic violence between parents impacts children like Chandni. But is it a revelatory cinematic trauma or easy peddling of something that’s been tackled frequently on the big screen and on every OTT platform? As for Aarav’s, “There’s no love in my family” whine, there’s nothing so offkey or indifferent about his parents to warrant emotional damage in their son.

Yes, it’s tough for 20-something students to raise a child and lead successful lives. Vivek Soni heightens it by having a baby that’s only constantly wailing, there’s never one sweet moment with the infant.

Yes, it’s understandable when the tension, and giving up his dreams of an MS in the US, to raise a family so unexpectedly prematurely, begins to tell on Aarav. And yes, it is unforgivable when he does what Chandni always recoiled from – physical assault. To that extent, this moment is more effective than say an entire film called Thappad.

But no, the screenplay is so laboriously circuitous with unnecessary pitstops that even 2 hrs and 15 mins seem like a lifetime. Totally cut-able are sequences like Aarav’s encounter with a nasty student and a restaurant scene between the two families where Chandni’s mother curiously throws, “Haath uthana hamare parivaron mein nahi hota” when the whole childhood trauma was based on just that unpardonable violence. The writers, Akshat Ghildial and Tushar Paranjape included, may pat themselves on the back for the scene with the two families but it took the narration nowhere. Many other moments, a make-believe celebration where Chandni and Aarav pretend to eat and drink from empty cups and plates, a stretched climax which has windows banging furiously and winds blowing like a toofan outside but not a hair moving on Ananya’s head or anything flying in the room, finally plod to an end that’s obvious when Chandni turns up at the reunion to re-create their first moments.

The title song is somewhat hummable but Vivek’s use of a long and immemorable background song while his story labours on, adds no poignancy to the drama.

What’s worth a watch are Ananya Panday and Lakshya who perform credibly as a couple intensely attracted to each other.

Chand Mera Dil – Watch Or Not?: How about watching it when it streams on an OTT platform?

Chand Mera Dil Movie Review Score Rating: 2 out of 5 (i.e. 2/5)

Chand Mera Dil Official Trailer:

Credits: Dharma Productions

Must Read: ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ Movie Review: A Fun Watch

Is Amitabh Bachchan Hospitalized? Here’s What Actually Happened

Rumours around Amitabh Bachchan being hospitalized recently left many fans worried after reports claimed that the veteran actor was admitted to Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital due to stomach-related issues. However, the latest updates from source close to the actor have now clarified the situation.

The speculation had began after reports stated that Amitabh Bachchan had been hospitalized to the VIP wing of Nanavati Hospital on May 16 for straight three days over the weekend. It was also claimed that his son Abhishek Bachchan visited him during the stay and soon after the news broke on the internet, fans flooded social media with prayers and recovery wishes for the megastar.

However, later reports revealed that the actor only visited the hospital for a routine monthly check-up and was discharged shortly after the examination.

A source clarified with PTI, “Mr Bachchan did visit Nanavati Hospital on Saturday; however, it was a regular check-up which he goes for every month, and he returned home after that. The news is absolutely false. He is absolutely fine.”

The source further added that Amitabh was even seen driving from Jalsa to Janak the very next day and is currently resting at home.

While the rumours continued online, Amitabh Bachchan chose not to directly react to them but instead he posted a cryptic poem on his blog and ended the note with, “Love, Prayers and more.”

The actor also continued his regular Sunday tradition of greeting fans outside his residence, reassuring many well-wishers that he was doing fine.

On the work front, Big B will be seen in the sequel of much-awaited Kalki 2898 AD, where he reprises his role as Ashwatthama alongside Prabhas and Kamal Haasan. He also has the courtroom drama Section 84 in the pipeline.

Though rumours created panic among fans, sources have confirmed that Amitabh Bachchan only underwent a routine health check-up and is doing well at home.

ALSO READ: Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3 To Be Different From Mohanlal’s Malayalam Version? Here’s What Makers Revealed

Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3 To Be Different From Mohanlal’s Malayalam Version? Here’s What Makers Revealed

The makers of the Drishyam franchise have finally shared an interesting update about the much-awaited third installment. Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak and filmmaker Abhishek Pathak confirmed that the Hindi and Malayalam versions of Drishyam 3 will not be exact copies of each other. Instead, both films will follow different storytelling styles while staying connected to the same thrill of cinematic world.

This surprising update has already caught fans’ attention because undoubtedly the franchise enjoys a massive following across languages. With Mohanlal leading the Malayalam version and Ajay Devgn returning as Vijay Salgaonkar in Hindi, audiences were curious whether both films would repeat the same plot again.

Speaking about the difference between the two films, the filmmaker Abhishek Pathak explained that the Malayalam version will lean more toward family emotions while the Hindi version will focus more on suspense and thrill.

He said, “Both the stories of ‘Drishyam 3’ in Malayalam and Hindi are going to flow differently. The Malayalam version shifts into an emotional family drama, while the Hindi version will be a drama-thriller. It will be fun to see both versions and notice the changes in it.”

The filmmaker also revealed that both scripts were developed separately. According to him he wrote the Hindi version keeping Vijay Salgaonkar’s journey and Hindi audience expectations in mind while Jeethu Joseph worked independently on the Malayalam script.

Abhishek added, “I wrote my story keeping the Hindi audience in mind so that they get what they are expecting from Vijay Salgaonkar in the film. Jeethu Joseph wrote his version. Later, we read each other’s drafts and we loved both.”

Another major update from Drishyam 3 is the addition of Jaideep Ahlawat. After Akshaye Khanna’s reported exit from the sequel, the makers brought Jaideep onboard for a completely new role.

Talking about the actor Abhishek said, “Jaideep is a very talented. We have seen his work and we loved him which is why we thought of him.”

He further hinted that the face-off between Ajay Devgn and Jaideep Ahlawat will become one of the film’s biggest highlights.

Apart from Drishyam 3, Panorama Studios is also working on projects like Raid 3 and Shaitaan 2. However, Abhishek made it clear that they are not making sequels just because the franchise names are popular.

He explained, “If people don’t like it, the brand goes down completely.”

For now, fans are waiting to see how both Drishyam 3 films surprise audiences differently while still keeping the core mystery alive.

ALSO READ: Kartavya Movie Review: Duty That’s Pointless

Kartavya Movie Review: Duty That’s Pointless

Kartavya Cast/Actors: Saif Ali Khan, Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Mishra, Manish Chaudhari, Zakir Hussain, Saurabh Dwivedi & Others

Kartavya Director: Pulkit

Kartavya Production House: Red Chillies Entertainment

Kartavya Release Date: 15th May, 2026

Kartavya Available On: Netflix OTT Platform

Kartavya Released/Available In Languages: Hindi, Telugu & Tamil

Kartavya Runtime: 1h 44m

Kartavya Movie Review:

Somewhere in Haryana, SHO Pawan Malik (Saif Ali Khan with frown lines intact) celebrates his 40th with camaraderie around him. Junior colleague Ashok (Sanjay Mishra) and son Honey at home hand him similar gifts – a white pair of shoes. That’s about the only attempt at some comic relief in writer-director Pulkit’s fruitless tale of Pawan Malik who takes on his morally flexible senior Keshav (Manish Chaudhari), the paedophilic local godman Anand Shri (Saurabh Dwivedi with his eternal smirk) and caste-obsessed dad (Zakir Hussain).

Almost as if caste is a cinematic agenda that must be flogged time and again even when there’s no story to tell, Pulkit milks it dry with the SHO’s father and the panchayat killing and burying couples that dare to cross caste boundaries. There’s even a menu you can order from – would you like your victim medium, rare or overdone? Dad is ready to slow-slaughter his own son too, for eloping with a girl from a lower caste. “If your finger gets cancerous, you’ve got to cut off your finger,” preach dad and the panchayat.  

“But don’t forget, your son is my brother,” hisses Pawan the troubled SHO who vows to keep his brother safe. It’s double duty for him as he also vows to keep one of Anand Shri’s young victims out of the godman’s clutches.

With customary kheer at home made by wife (Rasika Duggal) for birthday boy and overused references to Abhimanyu and the chakravyuh topped with Arjun’s duty-bound decisions on the battlefield, Pulkit pitches his hero against the entire system.

The only problem is, Pulkit’s hero has only rage and no plan in sight. No brains for sure, as even traitors as obvious as Saif’s Haryanvi accent, are overlooked by the SHO on a rampage.

Rage alone is no fuel, gets proved when Pawan Mishra’s story ends like a wimp’s tale, the hero unable to protect the helpless he vowed to take care of and all he succeeds in is in turning himself into a killing machine. But, unlike Raju Hirani’s PK where the godman is brought to justice, Anand Shri continues to smirk while the hero is left with only a bout of self-introspection.

So, what was the purpose in telling us this story, Netflix and Pulkit?      

Kartavya – Watch Or Not?: Go for it if you want a story with an abrupt and unsatisfactory ending.

Kartavya Movie Review Score Rating: 1 out of 5 (i.e. 1/5)

Kartavya Official Trailer:

Credits: Netflix India

Must Read: ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ Movie Review: A Fun Watch

‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ Movie Review: A Fun Watch

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Cast/Actors: Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, Wamiqa Gabbi, Rakul Preet Singh, Vijay Raaz, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Vishal Vashishtha and Ayesha Raza

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Director: Mudassar Aziz

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Production House: T-Series Films and B. R. Studios

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Release Date: 15 May 2026

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Available On: Theatrical Release

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Released/Available In Languages: Hindi

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Runtime: 1h 57m

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Critic Movie Review:

Trade analysts say, the film has no buzz. But the content is fun and fizz.

It takes a short while to get used to forest officer Prajapati Pandey (Ayushmann Khurrana) and his over-the-top decibel. But by the time “Casanova” leopard catcher nets his “tenduyi” and reaches home to wife and TV journalist Aparna Trivedi (Wamiqa Gabbi), his effervescence catches on. The viewer is all in as writer-director Mudassar Aziz rolls out the chuckles with Prajapati stepping in to help distressed collegemate Chanchal Kumari (Sara Ali Khan), unwittingly letting loose a string of misunderstandings.

Aparna, Chanchal and Prajapati’s colleague Niloufer Khan (Rakul Preet Singh) go round and round with Aziz and co-writer Ravi Kumar amping the fun when cop Dharmendra Singh (Vijay Raaz) stomps all over with his moral policing and rate card on the ready. Pack it with politician Gajraj Tiwari (Tigmanshu Dhulia), his son Sunny (Vishal Vashishtha) and the father’s hunt for the mystery girl in his son’s life, a talkative aunt (Ayesha Raza), an effeminate peon in the forest office and Prajapati’s Boss DK digging his ear with his finger, for amusement at every turn.

Mudassar spares no one. Gays, dharam parivartan, caste, he takes a swipe at everything with comic irreverence. Sunny and Bobby also turn into names that bring a smile.

Ayushmann Khurrana carries off Prajapati’s vanity and dilemma with much comic flair while saucy Wamiqa and spunky Rakul Preet sprinkle glamour and spice around him. Sara, as the girl caught in a situation, is comfortably comic while garrulous Ayesha Raza brings the house down. The professional ease of Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vijay Raaz adds value.

Under two hours is the perfect length for a comedy that’s conventional but keeps going without flagging.

What did I miss? Good music, for sure. Wish T-Series and the BR Chopra family would invest in memorable music to keep the audience better entertained instead of time-pass tunes that nobody takes home with them.

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do – Watch Or Not? Watch and smile. It’s a relief from the intensity of real life.

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Movie Review Score Rating: 3 out of 5 (i.e. 3/5)

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Official Trailer:

Credits: T-Series

ALSO READ: ‘Daadi Ki Shaadi’ Movie Review: Message Within A Mess

“Ayodhya Has Chosen Me”: Ranbir Kapoor Buys Premium Land Near Sarayu River Ahead Of Ramayana Release

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has made a major real estate investment in Ayodhya ahead of the release of his upcoming film Ramayana – Part 1. The actor recently bought a land parcel worth around Rs 3.31 crore at The Sarayu, a premium plotted development by The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL).

The property reportedly spreads across 2,134 sq ft and is located near the banks of the Sarayu River. The project has been gaining attention because of its location and modern lifestyle plans.

“Ayodhya Has Chosen Me,” Says Ranbir Kapoor

Speaking about the investment, Ranbir Kapoor shared an emotional note about his connection with Ayodhya. He said, “I believe Ayodhya has chosen me, and I have just answered this calling. Ayodhya is deep rooted in our history and is a critical part of our cultural fabric.”

He further added, “This land at The Sarayu became my gateway to ensuring this becomes a part of my legacy for my family. HoABL made this journey seamless, transparent and easy with their fully digital process.”

His statement has now caught the attention of fans especially because he will soon be seen playing Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana.

What Is The Sarayu Project?

The Sarayu is a 75-acre plotted development project in Ayodhya. According to the developers, it will include over 35 lifestyle amenities, a clubhouse and a fully vegetarian luxury hotel managed by The Leela.

Ayodhya has also witnessed rapid growth in tourism and infrastructure over the last few years, making it a key destination for both spiritual and investment purposes.

Ranbir Kapoor will be seen as Lord Rama in Ramayana – Part 1, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra. The film also stars Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman.

The first part is scheduled to release during Diwali 2026, while the second part is expected in 2027.

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar’s Welcome To The Jungle Look Is A Wild Swagger!

Akshay Kumar’s Welcome To The Jungle Look Is A Wild Swagger!

0

Akshay Kumar is making an entrance, and this time the jungle itself seems to be rolling out the red carpet for him. The actor’s latest look from Welcome to the Jungle is all about his effortless swagger and the kind of larger-than-life screen presence that instantly takes fans back to the iconic Welcome era. Dressed sharply with tinted glasses, standing tall in the middle of the wild, Akshay looks completely in command. He is stylish, confident and right at home in the franchise’s eccentric universe.

What makes the look click instantly is the nostalgia factor. There’s a familiar coolness reminiscent of the cult charm he brought to Welcome, but this time mounted on a much grander scale. The visual feels slicker, bigger and more movie magic like, while still holding onto the unmistakable Welcome flavour that audiences have loved for years. The first look is as much about comedy, as about his star power, with Akshay carrying the same effortless charisma that made him such a natural fit for the franchise in the first place.

Directed by Ahmed Khan, Welcome To The Jungle is slated to release in cinemas on June 26. With one of the biggest ensemble casts in recent times and Akshay Kumar returning to a space associated with his comic legacy, the film is already shaping up to be one of the season’s big-screen entertainers. Ready for a rollicking time? 

Must Read: Sai Pallavi Feels She Was “Miscast” In Ek Din? Junaid Khan And Aamir Khan Reacts Strongly