Entertainment Highlights October 16: Love & War Postponed? Rajinikanth-Mani Ratnam NOT Collaborating

Written and directed by debut filmmaker Siva Sashu, Kali (2024) is the latest suspense thriller that was theatrically released on October 4. Starring Naresh Agastya and Prince Cecil in lead roles, the movie is now gearing up for an OTT release within two weeks of its theatrical release date. Interestingly, the movie Kali is going to start streaming on the ETV Win platform on October 17, which is just 14 days after its theatrical release. Check out the tweet below.

It has recently been revealed that Alia Bhatt has charged around 10-15 Crores for the movie for her role as Satya. The budget of the movie Jigra has also been revealed. According to Bollywood Hungama's reports, Jigra is made on the budget of Rs. 80 Crore. And, it is reported that the entire sum of the movie has been recovered by the Dharma Production. A source told the outlet, "The entire sum of Rs 90 crore have been recovered by Dharma with sale of digital and satellite rights. Every penny of money that the film earns from music rights and theatrical will be a profit for Dharma."

The much-anticipated title track of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has finally been released, and it's a treat for fans. The filmmakers have brought together an exciting collaboration with Pitbull and Diljit Dosanjh lending their voices to the song. Adding to the excitement, Neeraj Shridhar, the original singer of the first Bhool Bhulaiyaa title track, has also teamed up with them for this version. In the music video, Kartik Aaryan showcases his dance moves, including a smooth moonwalk. The song maintains the nostalgic feel of the original while incorporating a fresh international vibe.

Actress Divya Khosla Kumar, wife of Bhushan Kumar, recently criticized Karan Johar after he posted a cryptic message. For context, Karan's note, which spoke about staying silent in the face of ‘fools,’ came after Divya accused him of inflating box office numbers for Alia Bhatt's Jigra and claimed the film was a copy of her own project Savi. In a recent interview, Divya alleged that Karan used ‘derogatory language’ in an attempt to silence her. She further stated that she doesn’t need such controversies for publicity, as she is already well-known in her own right. She told HT, "Today, when I speak up, Mr Karan Johar uses derogatory language to shut me down. Is it right to call a woman a fool for pointing out unethical practices? If this happens to me, what about those new to the industry? No one is a king here, and I won’t be treated like a subject. There are many more derogatory words which were used in their PR articles, and called my taking a stand as a PR stunt. I’m sorry, I don’t need one. I’m already well known."

The Raaj Shaandilyaa-directed film experienced another decline in box office earnings on its first Tuesday. According to Sacnilk.com, the movie has grossed nearly Rs 24 crore in India. It was released alongside Alia Bhatt's Jigra, directed by Vasan Bala, with both films hitting theaters on October 11. The box office figures for the film are as follows: Rs 5.5 crore on its opening day, followed by Rs 6.9 crore on the second day, Rs 6.4 crore on the third, and Rs2.4 crore on the fourth day. Early estimates indicate that the film earned approximately Rs 2.15 crore nett in India on its fifth day, bringing its total to around Rs 23.35 crore. On Tuesday, Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video recorded an overall Hindi occupancy rate of 11.07%.

During the Jonas Brothers' concert in Prague, Nick Jonas abruptly left the stage after spotting a laser aimed at him. In videos circulating online, Nick was performing with his brothers, Kevin and Joe Jonas, when he noticed the laser and quickly ran off stage in a panic. He alerted his security team about the potential danger while seeking cover. Meanwhile, Kevin and Joe remained on stage as the incident unfolded.

The assassination of Baba Siddique, former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader, has left the nation in shock. As the investigation into his murder unfolds, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has taken responsibility through a Facebook post. In light of this, authorities have heightened security for actor Salman Khan, fearing a potential threat to his safety. According to recent reports, security around Galaxy Apartments, Salman Khan's residence, has been significantly tightened, and fans are no longer allowed to gather outside or take selfies near the building.

In an exclusive interview with News18, Suhasini Maniratnam, wife of director Mani Ratnam, clarified that no discussions have taken place regarding the rumored collaboration between the filmmaker and Rajinikanth. She said, "No, I don’t think even Rajinikanth and Mani know about it (laughs). It’s only people who’re writing about it."

Reports suggest that the filming of Love & War has been delayed by almost two months. The production was originally scheduled to start in September 2024, but heavy rainfall in Mumbai caused significant damage to the film’s set, leading to major delays in its reconstruction. As a result, shooting is now expected to commence by late November or early December. However, an official confirmation regarding the same is still awaited.