Reports of Allu Arjun’s “Pushpa 2: The Rule” vacating the highly-coveted Independence Day weekend are causing seismic shifts within the Indian film industry. Filmmakers are now busy recalibrating their release schedules to take full advantage of this unexpected vacancy. Recently, the creators of “Khel Khel Mein” declared that their highly-anticipated film, starring Akshay Kumar, would now hit theaters on August 15.
Originally set for a release on August 9, director Mudassar Aziz’s rom-com “Khel Khel Mein” will now compete directly with Nikkhil Advani’s action thriller “Vedaa,” which stars John Abraham. But the competition doesn’t stop there. Dinesh Vijan, the producer, has also plunged into the race by moving up the release date for his horror-comedy “Stree 2” from August 30 to August 15. Starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, “Stree 2” is now poised to battle both “Khel Khel Mein” and “Vedaa” at the box office.
The result is a three-way clash that promises an adrenaline-fueled box office race. Generally, film aficionados are used to two simultaneous releases, but adding a third to the mix is considered almost too much, prompting industry insiders to coin the phrase, “Three’s a crowd!” Only time will tell which film will capture the lion’s share of the audience’s attention on the Independence Day weekend.
In other news, threats against veteran actress Raveena Tandon continue to escalate. Earlier this month, a video surfaced by a self-proclaimed freelance journalist accusing the actress of being intoxicated and physically assaulting a senior citizen. The Mumbai Police were quick to dismiss these accusations as unfounded. Raveena, however, is not taking these threats lightly and has decided to press defamation charges. Her lawyer, Sana Raees Khan, has sent a legal notice to the accuser. The notice states, “This dissemination of false news appears to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish Raveena’s reputation. The intent behind spreading these falsehoods seems rooted in extortion and a desire for cheap publicity at the expense of the actor’s dignity. We are taking all the necessary legal steps to address this issue.” Meanwhile, a human rights organization has invited Raveena to Delhi on August 31 to recognize her efforts in protecting her driver from a violent mob.
In the realm of rising stars, Jibraan Khan is gearing up for his role in “Ishq Vishk Rebound.” Reflecting on his time as an assistant director for Ayan Mukerji’s “Brahmāstra: Part One—Shiva,” Jibraan recounts how the experience of working with Amitabh Bachchan was a dream come true. “I had to ask him to record a voice note for a special scene. I had his number, but I didn’t have the guts to call him,” Jibraan admitted. As fate would have it, it was Amitabh Bachchan who called him. Jibraan shares, “When Amitabh Bachchan introduced himself, I was shocked for five seconds.
. I couldn’t believe it. It was an awe-struck moment for me that the great Amitabh Bachchan knows my name and recognizes me.”
Furthermore, the release calendar continues to shift with NTR Junior’s “Devara Part 1” moving up its release date from October 10 to September 27. Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt’s “Jigra” has been postponed from September 27 to October 11. The two actors are no strangers to each other, having previously worked together on SS Rajamouli’s “RRR” (2022). Notably, Karan Johar has stakes in both films. On one hand, Johar is distributing NTR Jr’s action-packed drama with Anil Thadani in Hindi territories. On the other hand, he is producing “Jigra” with Alia Bhatt. “Devara,” directed by Koratala Siva, also features Janhvi Kapoor making her Telugu debut and stars Saif Ali Khan as the antagonist.
Earlier this year, speculations about a sequel to the 2002 hit “Humraaz” began to circulate. Directed by Abbas-Mustan, the original film featuring Bobby Deol, Akshaye Khanna, and Ameesha Patel was a thriller that captivated audiences. Ameesha Patel recently met with the director duo and shared, “They not only believe in cracking the script but also taking it a few notches higher. The makers are fine-tuning the screenplay and will make the announcement when they are ready.” She added that after the remarkable success of Sunny Deol’s “Gadar 2: The Katha Continues,” director Anil Sharma is eager to advance the franchise with a new narrative.
In other headlines, rumors about Sonakshi Sinha’s impending wedding to Zaheer Iqbal have blindsided the producer of their film “Tu Hai Meri Kiran.” Sarvesh Goel, the film’s producer, revealed that the actors were eager to wrap up the shooting quickly, but the rains have disrupted their plans. Although only a few days of shooting remain, there have been no updates on the duo’s combined availability.
Adding to the entertainment landscape, Vivan Bhatena joins the cast of the series “Raisinghani vs Raisinghani.” Playing the character Ishaan Talvar, a legal genius known for winning even the most challenging cases, Vivan’s role promises to inject more twists into the already gripping narrative, which stars Jennifer Winget, Karan Wahi, and Reem Sheikh. Vivan expressed, “The storyline and Ishaan’s character intrigued me. To capture the nuances of playing an alcoholic character, a specific kind of performance was required.” He emphasized that every medium—whether television, film, or OTT—demands a different approach tailored for its audience. “I’ve tried to keep the character real and relatable. So, I’m excited for the audience to witness my work, and I hope they find it enjoyable,” he added.
