Bollywood’s box office king, Akshay Kumar, is on a comedic roll, adding another uproarious film to his slate even as he juggles two sequels of his hit comedy franchises, Welcome and Housefull. The actor, currently busy with the production of “Welcome to the Jungle,” is scheduled to commence shooting for “Housefull 5” in May. Despite a packed summer schedule, Kumar has confirmed his collaboration with director Mrighdeep Singh Lamba for a brand-new comedy venture.
Lamba, known for the successful “Fukrey” series, appears to have found a fan in Kumar who, after a recent meeting, was convinced by the director’s fresh script. Sources say this latest offering promises to blend rollicking slapstick with elements of situational humor. There’s a buzz around town that a stellar ensemble cast is being assembled, with plans to kick off filming later in the year.
The movie, which remains untitled, enjoys the backing of producer Mahaveer Jain and features a script penned by Gautam Mehra. Beyond this new comedy, Kumar’s pipeline is brimming with potential blockbusters, including “Subhash Kapoor’s Jolly LLB 3” co-starring Arshad Warsi, and the Eid-bound “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan”.
Taking a turn from big-screen action to studio beats, Nora Fatehi, widely praised for her sensational moves, is expanding her artistic repertoire with a foray into music. Following her captivating performance in “Madgaon Express,” the Canadian talent is now showcasing her rapping prowess in Kunal Kemmu’s directorial debut, stunning listeners with her lyrical dexterity.
Turning to personal milestones, actor and director Anshuman Jha and his wife Sierra have recently become parents to a baby girl, named Tara Jha Winters. Their newborn’s arrival came after a prolonged 32-hour labor, a journey that ended with both mother and child in good health, much to the couple’s relief and joy.
On the cinematic front, strategic plays are afoot in Aditya Chopra’s YRF Spy Universe. While expansions are planned, including “War 2,” “Pathaan 2,” and another spy thriller featuring Alia Bhatt, sources hint at a hiatus for “Tiger,” the character that Salman Khan immortalized. Insiders suggest that stepping back from Tiger’s character might help preserve its mystique, possibly sidelining the superspy from upcoming crossovers to make any future return all the more impactful.
In an era of platform-agnostic consumers, Bhumi Pednekar shared her enthusiasm for the eclectic scripts her contemporaries are choosing, unfazed by the mode of release. She highlights how streaming services have dissolved language barriers, enabling actors to garner global audiences and redefine success stories like “Bhakshak”.
Theatre intrigues and casting what-ifs often make for fascinating tales. One such revelation came from Saif Ali Khan, who shared why he was selected over Aamir Khan for the role of Langda Tyagi in Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, “Omkara.” It appears that creative differences led Bhardwaj to favor Saif, a twist of fate that turned out to be a win for the latter’s filmography.
Lastly, the music arena is abuzz as Badshah, a prominent rapper-singer-songwriter, preps for the launch of his third studio album, “Ek Tha Raja.” Adding to the fervor, none other than the Bollywood Badshah, Shah Rukh Khan, graced the album’s trailer, an endorsement that visibly humbled the rapper. Badshah candidly shared his admiration for Khan, acknowledging the actor’s significant influence on his life and career.
Between the laughs and the lyrics, life in Bollywood continues to spin narratives of collaborations, successes, and heartwarming personal journeys, ensuring that there’s never a dull moment in the vibrant world of Indian cinema.
