Entertainment Highlights: Kangana Ranaut On Doing Films Like Rascals, Priyanka’s Love Again Flops In US

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta’s series “Scoop" is set to premiere on Netflix on June 2. The web series is inspired by Jigna Vora’s biographical book “Behind the Bars In Byculla: My Days in Prison.” Headlined by Karishma Tanna, “Scoop" is billed as a human drama and also stars Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Harman Baweja and Prosenjit Chatterjee.

One of Hollywood’s most talented and beloved actresses Jacklyn Zeman passed away at the age of 70. She was best known for playing nurse Bobbie Spencer in the long-running show General Hospital. Her death was confirmed by the show’s executive producer, Frank Valentini on Twitter with a heartfelt note. She was born on March 6, 1953, in Englewood, New Jersey and is survived by two daughters Cassidy and Lacey Rose.

After actress Anushka Sharma, former Miss World 2017 winner and actress Manushi Chhillar is all set to make her fashionable debut at the prestigious 76th Cannes Film Festival 2023 which will begin from May 16. According to a report by the news agency IANS, Manushi will be walking the red carpet at the film festival.

Despite a promising start, Mani Ratnam's epic film Ponniyin Selvan 2 is facing difficulties in gaining momentum at the box office, despite the high expectations surrounding its release. According to industry insiders, the movie has already grossed over Rs 280 crore globally, but it is unlikely to surpass the lifetime earnings of its predecessor, Ponniyin Selvan 1, which grossed over Rs 500 crore.

After entertaining audiences with back-to-back successes in Khakee, Trial By Fire, Rana Naidu, Class, and the recently-released Toothpari, Netflix will soon drop another genre-defining drama series. On June 2, ace filmmaker Hansal Mehta and Netflix will bring audiences a new series titled Scoop. The intriguing drama will have audiences unravel the 'Scoop' that led to a complex conspiracy.

India's two leading production houses - Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment announce a strategic content partnership to deliver fresh and compelling content to the screens. Setting a new standard in the entertainment industry, through this alliance, both production houses will bring their respective strengths and expertise to the table, to produce multiple projects across feature films and digital formats.

Riding high on the success of The Kerala Story, Adah Sharma has now announced her next big project, The Game of Girgit produced by Gandhar Films and Studio Pvt Ltd. Starring Shreyas Talpade in the lead role along with Adah Sharma, the film is loosely based on the infamous ‘Blue Whale Game’ that became extremely popular amongst the youngsters in recent times.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, The Kerala Story is having a dream run at the box office. After collecting a crazy Rs 11.14 crore on Tuesday, the film witnessed another jump on Wednesday and did a business of Rs 12 crore in India, taking its total earnings to Rs 68.86 crore so far.

Adipurush, starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan, has become the talk of the town. The movie has garnered a lot of attention ever since its trailer was released, and fans can't seem to get enough of it. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, this Ramayana-based epic has also set records by becoming the most-watched trailer of 2023, with over 70 million views in just 24 hours. Since its release, the trailer has also been trending at the top spot on YouTube.

Love Again, the latest Hollywood film featuring Priyanka Chopra, Sam Heughan and Celine Dion, failed to make a mark at the box office during its opening weekend. The romantic drama managed to earn only .38 million (Rs 18 crore) in its first three days of release in the US. Love Again faced stiff competition from other movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Evil Dead Rise, and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret in the US.

Following the backlash received by The Kerala Story since its release, producer and creative director Vipul Amrutlal Shah has responded to the criticism. He clarified that the movie is not directed against Muslims or Islam, but rather against terrorists. The film, helmed by Sudipto Sen, hit theatres on May 5 and was subsequently banned in some states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

In response to the ongoing debate regarding nepotism and privilege, Alia Bhatt has shared her thoughts, acknowledging the issue and emphasizing that she never takes her work for granted. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar Arabia, she said, "It has definitely come up a lot in conversation over the last couple of years. The long and short of it is, I empathise. I understand that it’s possibly been easier for me to get through the door than maybe the next person. And I compare my dreams to another person’s dreams: no dream is bigger or smaller, or more intense. Everybody’s dreams are the same, everybody’s desire is the same. So I completely understand where that conversation comes from. The only thing I can say is that I acknowledge the fact that I have gotten that head start. I acknowledge the fact that I do have that privilege, which is why I give 100 per cent every day and I never take my work for granted. The only thing I can do is keep my head down and keep working."

In response to an old video of herself discussing her involvement in films such as Rascals and Double Dhamaal, Kangana Ranaut expressed her thoughts and stated that, despite knowing she "deserved better," she persisted. Kangana shared her reaction via her Instagram Stories after a fan page uploaded the clip. She further added that she has never made any "wrong decisions" in her career. Kangana wrote in the caption: "Even when I knew I deserved better I never grew frustrated or cynical... above all I never made any wrong decisions ever. (smile face emoticon)" She further wrote, "Thanks to my fans for these lovely old reminder clips."