Entertainment Highlights: Arjun-Malaika IGNORE Each Other At Event; John Vijay Accused Of Harassment

Choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan's mother Menka Irani passed away yesterday at the age of 79. Several Bollywood stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Sanjay Leela Bhansali among others, visited Farah's residence yesterday. Today, a while ago, Kajol, ho shares a close bond with Farah Khan, visited her residence to offer condolences over the loss of her mother.

Javed Akhtar recently recalled how Amitabh Bachchan was skeptical about playing role in Zanjeer. He said, “I went to his place. I told him, ‘Let me give you the script (of Zanjeer) and make you meet the producer. You don’t discuss any terms and conditions with him. Just do the film in whatever way possible'. He asked for a narration. I gave him a narration. I still remember very clearly that he looked at me in wonder. He said, ‘Do you think I can pull off this role?’ Because till then, he was playing only poet and doctor and writer and so on. So he said, ‘Can I do this?’ Then I told him, ‘Nobody can do it better than you',” Javed said.

Touted to be the biggest family entertainer of the year, 'Khel Khel Mein' boasts of an impressive starcast including Akshay Kumar, Ammy Virk Taapsee Pannu, Fardeen Khan, Vaani Kapoor, Aditya Seal and Pragya Jaiswal. According to Pinkvilla, the makers are all set to launch the trailer of the upcoming family entertainer at a grand event in Mumbai on 2nd August 2024.

Streaming platform Netflix on Saturday announced “Rakt Bramhand - The Bloody Kingdom”, a fantasy action series from filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. The upcoming series will be produced by Raj & DK through their production company D2R Films. It will be directed by Rahi Anil Barve of “Tumbbad” fame. “Rakt Bramhand - The Bloody Kingdom” promises to be a "gripping, edgy narrative set against the backdrop of a fantastical kingdom with bloody action and spectacular visuals, the streamer said in a statement.

Bollywood star Ranveer Singh is teaming up with filmmaker Aditya Dhar for his next feature film, the makers announced on Saturday. The untitled film will feature an ensemble cast that also includes Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal and R Madhavan. Dhar, best known for his 2019 directorial debut "Uri: The Surgical Strike", will also produce the movie along with brother Lokesh Dhar through their banner B62 Studios, and Jyoti Deshpande of Jio Studios.

Taapsee Pannu has found herself at the center of attention after an influencer criticized her for refusing to take a selfie. The incident occurred during the promotional event for Taapsee's upcoming film, Khel Khel Mein. Influencer Ananya Dwivedi, who was present to support the film, has publicly called out the actress over this exchange. A video from the event, which has since gone viral, shows Taapsee and Ananya greeting each other on stage. After their handshake, Ananya asked for a selfie. Although Taapsee initially appeared to agree, she ultimately declined the request. This moment has sparked considerable buzz online. In response, Ananya took to the comments of the viral video, expressing her disappointment: “That’s me. I don’t understand why someone would refuse a selfie when surrounded by cameras, especially when influencers like me are there to promote HER film! She really could use better PR training.”

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut show, Heeramandi - The Diamond Bazaar," on Netflix created a stir with its release. While the show arrived with a grand canvas, larger-than-life visuals, enthralling music, and an engaging story, it also witnessed some of the cast's most amazing performances. The audience loved the stunning portrayal of Alamzeb by Sharmin Segal, propelling her career to new heights. While the show is making waves with the release of Netflix's Q2 2024 earnings, Sharmin is immensely grateful for its commercial success. While expressing her happiness for the grand success of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi, Sharmin Segal said, "It fills my heart with so much joy to see the love Heeramandi has been garnering worldwide. I will always be grateful that I got to be a part of this magical world. It feels amazing to see the show creating a benchmark globally. I hope the love continues to grow over time."

The 2024 Summer Olympics have officially begun in Paris, with a spectacular opening ceremony held on Friday. India has sent a 117-member contingent to this year’s Games, and Bollywood celebrities are rallying to offer their support to the athletes. Among them, actor Kartik Aaryan was quick to extend his best wishes. The Chandu Champion star shared a heartfelt message, expressing his pride in seeing the Indian flag prominently displayed. He also posted a photo from his latest film, reflecting on his role in portraying Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar. “Wishing All the best to the athletes representing our nation at the Paris Olympics 2024. Playing an Athlete in #ChanduChampion has been an incredible experience and honor. The feeling of holding the medal and seeing the Indian flag on top cannot be expressed in words. More strength to all you Champions!! Give your best and make us proud,” Kartik wrote on Instagram.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s much-anticipated film Deadpool and Wolverine was released in India this Friday. Directed by Shawn Levy, the film has made a strong showing at the box office. According to the latest reports, it has earned nearly Rs 22 crore in India. Sacnilk estimates that the film garnered around Rs 21.5 crore nett on its opening day across all languages. The breakdown includes Rs 11.7 crore from English, Rs 7.5 crore from Hindi, Rs 1.2 crore from Tamil, and Rs 1.1 crore from Telugu. The film is projected to continue its strong performance throughout the weekend.

Farah Khan was visibly mourning the loss of her mother, Menaka Irani. In a series of heartfelt and widely shared photographs, Shah Rukh Khan, a close friend of Farah, was seen at her home offering support. Accompanied by his family, Gauri and Suhana Khan, SRK was observed comforting Farah. One touching moment in the photos shows Shah Rukh sending Farah a flying kiss, symbolizing his support and affection during this difficult time.

In a significant development in the Salman Khan house firing case, a special court in Mumbai has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) for Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of imprisoned gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Additionally, a warrant has been issued for Rohit Godera, an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Both Anmol and Rohit have been on the run since the Mumbai police included them in the charge-sheet earlier this month. In response, Special Judge B.D. Shelke, who handles cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), has issued a standing non-bailable warrant for their arrest.

The controversy began when a female journalist, reporting on sexual misconduct within Malayalam cinema, accused John Vijay of making unwanted advances while she was waiting for an interview. Following this claim, Chinmayi Sripada has been posting screenshots of multiple complaints against the actor. These screenshots reveal various allegations, including accusations of John Vijay 'ogling' women and creating an uncomfortable atmosphere in professional settings. Additionally, one journalist has accused him of inappropriate behavior. “After The Newsminute report about the Sexual Assault case of Malayalam cinema also mentioned John Vijay for his misdemeanour with the journalist. There are other women speaking about his behaviour in general,” Chinmayi wrote while sharing the screenshots and added, “More on John Vijay from others who read the post. One of them interviewed him on camera.”

Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor seemed to confirm rumors of their breakup at a recent fashion event, where they deliberately avoided each other. Paparazzo Viral Bhayani captured a video showing Malaika and Arjun seated at opposite ends of the venue, a noticeable departure from their usual closeness. In the video, Malaika walked past Arjun, who was taking a selfie with a fan. Although Arjun reached out to ensure her safety by placing a hand behind her to protect her from the crowd, Malaika did not acknowledge his gesture and continued on her way without looking back. This interaction further fueled speculation about their split.