Entertainment Highlights March 17: War 2 Release Date Announced; Chhaava Sets Record In 5th Weekend

Vicky Kaushal's film beats Pathaan in terms of 5th Monday collection. While Chhaava earned Rs. 1.46 Cr on 5th Monday, Pathaan earned Rs. 88 lakhs on 5th Monday, making Vicky's film surpassing Pathaan swiftly on first day of the week.

South Indian actor Bala is once again making headlines, this time for serious allegations leveled against him by his ex-wife, Elizabeth Udayan. The actor, who has been married three times, now finds himself embroiled in legal trouble as Elizabeth has accused him of harassment and even sexual assault. She claims that despite their separation, she continues to feel unsafe due to his alleged actions. In response to the growing controversy, Bala recently took to Facebook, posting a video addressing the accusations. He captioned it, “Me and kokila wish to say “PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE". WISH this is my last video regarding this issue. Dear ELIZABETH AND FAMILY."

Universal Pictures (distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery) is proud to announce the release of Black Bag on 28th March 2025. Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Soderbergh, Black Bag is a gripping drama thriller starring Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Gabrielle Abela, Golden Globe Nominee Pierce Brosnan, Tom Burke, Academy Award Nominee Naomie Harris and Regé-Jean Page from Netflix’s hit period drama Bridgerton. The film received widespread acclaim with the plot being hailed as “a crackling thriller”, and “sensuously icy spy”.

Bollywood personality and social media sensation Orry (Orhan Awatramani) has found himself at the center of controversy after being booked, along with seven others, for violating local regulations in Katra, Jammu division. Authorities stated that the group consumed alcohol in a hotel’s Cottage Suite despite clear restrictions prohibiting alcohol and non-vegetarian food in the area. Katra, a revered pilgrimage site for devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi, maintains strict rules to preserve its sanctity. Despite being explicitly informed about the ban, Orry and his companions allegedly ignored the guidelines, sparking backlash and legal consequences.

Production banner Kathha Pictures announced on Monday the shoot wrap of the upcoming film "Gandhari" starring Taapsee Pannu in the lead. The revenge drama is directed by Devashish Makhija and is produced and written by Kanika Dhillon. Pannu said "Gandhari" is the film that has been "not just mentally but physically demanding". "We tried to achieve so much against all odds which wouldn't have been possible if the entire team was not aligned together and driven enough to complete this film at break neck speed. We have pushed the envelope a bit with this film," the actor said in a statement.

On Sunday, production house Yash Raj Films officially announced that War 2, the next chapter in its ambitious Spy Universe, will hit theaters worldwide on August 14. The studio confirmed the release date by re-sharing an unofficial promotional asset of the film on its official X page. "Must say… you have set it up brilliantly even before we have started our marketing of #War2... there will be mayhem in cinemas on 14 August 2025, worldwide…" the banner said in the post.

Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna starrer Chhaava continues its remarkable box office streak, setting a new benchmark in its fifth weekend by collecting an impressive Rs 22 crore. This latest surge during the Holi weekend pushes its total to Rs 562.38 crore NBOC! Surpassing anticipated hits like Pushpa 2 (Hindi) and Stree 2, the film remains an unstoppable force at the box office.