Actor Sunil Grover has been a part of the industry for decades, and more recently, he has been in the spotlight for his mimicry acts, including the likes of Aamir Khan and Kader Khan, which has brought him widespread appreciation. Ask him if playing so many characters satisfy the artiste in him and he says, “Hum log to bahut kuch karna chahte hain, but log kis tarah se usko receive karte hain, wo matter karta hai.”
Sunil Grover (Photo: Instagram)
The actor adds, “The good thing is that the audience is receiving our work with the same intention that we are doing it with. There are millions of people in the world, so if I keep doing characters, there is a lot of scope. But I feel lucky that my work is received well.” Insisting on the challenges of doing comedy, Sunil Grover says, “Comedy is not easy to do. It’s one of the most difficult genre and I have utmost respect for people who do it. Who in the world says, ‘mujhe hansna achha nahin lagta?’ So the ability to make someone laugh is a gift. I get so much love across the world for my comedic work. So many people come up and say they got out of depression due to our work, or the doctor recommended our show. When our work becomes a medicine, it feels great.”
Recently, comedian Zakir Khan took a break from comedy, citing work pressure. Does he ever feel that too? “I don’t feel any pressure, I am hungry for more love. I feel pressure rather when that love gets less. Slow and steady is fine, but I feel I am already slow enough, I don’t want to go slower. Rather, I need to gather more pace. Main life mein khaali bahut raha hun, so mujhe iski keemat pata hai. Jis din ye na ho, tab mujhe problem hogi,” he responds.
Sunil also got appreciation from actor Neena Gupta recently, who had praised his looks and said he deserve more work across genres. Mention that, and he quips, “I completely trust her. I want to thank Neena ji and I love her. With this statement, I realise she has a keen eye for beauty.”
Kolkata Knight Riders have retired Andre Russell’s No. 12 jersey in a landmark tribute to one of the most influential overseas players in the franchise’s history, formally preserving a number that had become inseparable from the West Indies all-rounder over his long association with the team. The announcement was made at KKR’s preseason event, Knights Unplugged, in Kolkata, with CEO Venky Mysore presenting it as a fitting honour for a player who had helped define an era for the franchise.
KKR retired the number 12 jersey as a tribute to their all-rounder Andre Russell. (KKR X)
Russell represented KKR from 2014 to 2025, except for the 2017 season, and 133 of his 140 IPL appearances were for the Kolkata franchise. He was part of KKR’s title-winning squads in 2014 and 2024 and retired from the IPL ahead of the 2026 season, before moving into the franchise setup as power coach.
An emotional tribute to a KKR great
Speaking at the event in Kolkata, Mysore said, “We’ve had a long association with Andre Russell, not just with KKR but also on a personal level. On the field, he has given us so many reasons to celebrate his performances over the years. He always wore the number 12 proudly, and the number is so unique to Dre Russ, that wanted to share a fitting tribute. So, in the Knight Riders tradition of starting a new legacy, we’d like to retire this number for KKR in his honour.”
The gesture carried both symbolic and emotional weight for KKR, who have built much of their modern identity around Russell’s explosive all-round value. Across his IPL stint with the franchise, he scored more than 2,600 runs at a strike rate above 174 and took more than 120 wickets, underlining why KKR chose to turn No. 12 into a permanent part of their legacy.
An emotional Russell said the tribute video and the memories attached to his KKR journey had left him overwhelmed. “It has been over a decade of amazing achievements with this franchise, and I got a bit emotional watching the video. To be a part of two championship-winning teams with KKR, and to see what it means to everyone, that’s an amazing feeling. When you win a World Cup, that feels special, but when you win the IPL, it’s something different. I just want to say thanks to this franchise for making this journey so special for me.”
Russell’s words captured why the moment resonated so strongly with KKR supporters. This was more than a ceremonial send-off for a retired player. It was the franchise marking Andre Russell’s place in its history with a gesture that ensures No. 12 will remain uniquely his in Kolkata’s colours.
Iran US War News: Iran and Israel have stepped up attacks against each other, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz saying the campaign will continue “at full intensity.”
Iran US War Live Updates: The Trump administration has reportedly shared a 15-point peace plan with Iran to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region, with some reports saying the US has sought a month-long ceasefire to discuss the proposal, which was put through Pakistan. While it is unclear how comprehensive the plan is and whether Iran will accept the proposals, AFP reported, citing multiple media reports, that the document reportedly includes tighter limits on Tehran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
mediator pakistan
Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly announced that Islamabad was ready to facilitate talks. “Subject to the consent of the US and Iran, Pakistan is ready and honored to be the host to facilitate meaningful and decisive negotiations for a comprehensive resolution of the current conflict,” he said in a post on Twitter.
Trump took a screenshot of Sharif’s post and shared it on his Truth social account, which is a major turnaround for the US President after repeatedly claiming that the US has “already won the war”.
The president said Tuesday that the U.S. is “in talks right now,” adding that his special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance were all participants in the talks.
“They’re talking to us, and they’re talking smart. It all starts with saying they can’t have nuclear weapons,” Trump said.
He said that no one knows whom to talk to, but America is talking to the right people. He said, “…they want to make a deal so badly, you have no idea how badly they want to do it.”
More US troops in the Middle East
The 82nd Airborne is considered an emergency response force of the US Army, and is reportedly technically deployed on short notice. It would be the latest deployment of US troops after officials said last week that thousands of Marines aboard several Navy ships were headed to the Middle East.
82nd Airborne soldiers are reportedly trained to parachute into hostile or disputed territory to secure key areas and airfields.
oil prices today
Oil prices fell on Wednesday after Trump reportedly sent a peace plan to Iran. Brent crude oil fell nearly six percent. Brent crude, which had risen above $103 a barrel the previous day, fell to $98.30.
Meanwhile, the benchmark US oil, West Texas Intermediate, fell nearly 5 percent to $87.72.
Iran-Israel tension increased
Amidst the possibility of peace talks between Iran and America, the tension between Israel and Iran does not seem to be reducing.
Iran and Israel have stepped up attacks against each other, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz saying the campaign will continue “at full intensity”.
The Israeli military also said Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel on the first and second days of the war. However, it also said that this number had “fallen sharply”.
India’s PM Modi spoke to Trump
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Donald Trump on phone on Tuesday and confirmed that New Delhi supports the early restoration of peace in the Middle East.
PM Modi also said that he wants to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and safe for the global community.
PM Modi posted on Twitter that he received a call from the US President and had a “useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia”.
He said, “India supports early de-escalation and restoration of peace. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the entire world.” PM Modi said the two sides agreed to remain in touch “with regard to efforts towards peace and stability”.
…read more
mediator pakistan
Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly announced that Islamabad was ready to facilitate talks. “Subject to the consent of the US and Iran, Pakistan is ready and honored to be the host to facilitate meaningful and decisive negotiations for a comprehensive resolution of the current conflict,” he said in a post on Twitter.
Trump took a screenshot of Sharif’s post and shared it on his Truth social account, which is a major turnaround for the US President after repeatedly claiming that the US has “already won the war”.
The president said Tuesday that the U.S. is “in talks right now,” adding that his special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance were all participants in the talks.
“They’re talking to us, and they’re talking smart. It all starts with saying they can’t have nuclear weapons,” Trump said.
He said that no one knows whom to talk to, but America is talking to the right people. He said, “…they want to make a deal so badly, you have no idea how badly they want to do it.”
More US troops in the Middle East
The 82nd Airborne is considered an emergency response force of the US Army, and is reportedly technically deployed on short notice. It would be the latest deployment of US troops after officials said last week that thousands of Marines aboard several Navy ships were headed to the Middle East.
82nd Airborne soldiers are reportedly trained to parachute into hostile or disputed territory to secure key areas and airfields.
oil prices today
Oil prices fell on Wednesday after Trump reportedly sent a peace plan to Iran. Brent crude oil fell nearly six percent. Brent crude, which had risen above $103 a barrel the previous day, fell to $98.30.
Meanwhile, the benchmark US oil, West Texas Intermediate, fell nearly 5 percent to $87.72.
Iran-Israel tension increased
Amidst the possibility of peace talks between Iran and America, the tension between Israel and Iran does not seem to be reducing.
Iran and Israel have stepped up attacks against each other, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz saying the campaign will continue “at full intensity”.
The Israeli military also said Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel on the first and second days of the war. However, it also said that this number had “fallen sharply”.
India’s PM Modi spoke to Trump
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Donald Trump on phone on Tuesday and confirmed that New Delhi supports the early restoration of peace in the Middle East.
PM Modi also said that he wants to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and safe for the global community.
PM Modi posted on Twitter that he received a call from the US President and had a “useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia”.
He said, “India supports early de-escalation and restoration of peace. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the entire world.” PM Modi said the two sides agreed to remain in touch “with regard to efforts towards peace and stability”.
Follow all updates here:
March 25, 2026 7:03:57 am First
Iran US war live updates: Israelis receive mobile alerts as Iranian missile targets residential area in Tehran
Iran US war live updates: Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday morning that they have identified missiles launched from Iran towards Israeli territory, noting that defensive systems are working to stop the threat.
Israeli officials also sent precautionary instructions directly to mobile phones in the areas concerned.
The public has been instructed to enter a safe place and remain there until further notice.
March 25, 2026 6:56:05 am First
Iran US war live updates: Pakistan becomes mediator, says ready to host talks
Iran US War Live Updates: Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly announced that Islamabad is ready to facilitate talks.
“Subject to the consent of the US and Iran, Pakistan is ready and honored to be the host to facilitate meaningful and decisive negotiations for a comprehensive resolution of the current conflict,” he said in a post on Twitter.
March 25, 2026 6:52:27 am First
Iran US war live updates: Trump sends peace plan proposal to Iran, reports say
Iran US War Live Updates: The Trump administration has reportedly shared a 15-point peace plan with Iran to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region, with some reports saying the US has sought a month-long ceasefire to discuss the proposal, which was put through Pakistan.
The plan reportedly includes tighter limits on Tehran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, AFP reported, citing multiple media reports.
Jeethu Joseph’s latest thriller, ‘Valathu Vashathe Kallan,’ starring Biju Menon and Joju George, is now available on Lionsgate Play and Manorama Max. The film, a gripping tale of revenge and a race against time, has garnered mixed to positive reviews. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated ‘Drishyam 3’ has been rescheduled for a May 21, 2026 release.
Malayalam filmmaker Jeethu Joseph holds a genuine fan base and mostly his thriller works are appreciated for it’s gripping screenplay and execution. Jeethu Joseph’s latest Malayalam thriller ‘Valathu Vashathe Kallan’ is gearing up for its OTT release. The film will begin streaming within two months of its theatrical debut.
Where to watch ‘Valathu Vashathe Kallan’
The film stars Biju Menon and Joju George in the lead roles and ‘Valathu Vashathe Kallan’ is touted as a gripping thriller.The movie, which hit theatres on January 30, will be available from Friday. It will stream on Lionsgate Play and Manorama Max as reported by OTT Play website. Viewers can watch the film in Malayalam with English subtitles.
Plot: Revenge meets race against time
The story revolves around CI Antony who is a corrupt police officer and his life takes a dark turn when his path crosses with Samuel.Samuel’s daughter goes missing and is later found dead. This tragedy pushes him towards revenge. He sets out to expose Antony and uncover the truth.As Samuel plots his moves, Antony faces a crisis of his own and he must race against time to save his son. The plot itself is something that the audiences expect from a Jeethu Joseph film.
ETimes verdict
The film has received mixed to positive responses from critics. Our ETimes review stated, “The first half is excellent, luring us in with a good story, emotions and unexpected twists, and at the halfway point you have absolutely no clue of how the story might proceed. And when you think back, you will be struck by some cleverly placed dialogues that add up at the end of the film. While the second half has a novel narrative and, on the whole, the film is a pacey, that edge-of-seat element of a thriller is missing. It may or may not be a complaint.”The review further added, “The film benefits from the writer and director being in sync. Dinu has created interesting characterisations and situations, that Jeethu has elevated it with the right moods, whether light or broody.”
‘Drishyam 3‘ update
Meanwhile, Jeethu Joseph is also working on the much-awaited ‘Drishyam 3’. The release has now been postponed. It will arrive on May 21, 2026, coinciding with Mohanlal’s birthday. The film was earlier scheduled for April 2.Sharing the update, Mohanlal wrote, “The past never stays silent…it only waits. Georgekutty arrives, May 21st 2026. #Drishyam3 | Worldwide Release.”Reports suggest that tensions in the Gulf region influenced the decision.
Few teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have commanded as much attention and frustration as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). From their inception in 2008 as one of the most expensive franchises, RCB built a reputation on star power, loyal fan support and near misses. Owned initially by Vijay Mallya and later taken over by Diageo, the franchise evolved both on and off the field.
Watch
RCB’s big changes ahead of IPL: New rules, tribute & squad update
The early years were inconsistent. A Test-heavy squad struggled in the inaugural season, but the team quickly rebounded, reaching finals in 2009 and 2011. Over time, RCB became synonymous with marquee names such as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. Kohli, in particular, became the face of the franchise, leading the side for nearly a decade and producing one of the greatest individual seasons in IPL history in 2016, when RCB reached yet another final but fell short.Despite frequent big-money signings and strong squads, the title remained elusive. Coaching changes, squad reshuffles and inconsistency often held them back. Yet, their popularity never dipped, with RCB becoming one of the most followed teams globally.The long wait finally ended in 2025. Under new leadership and a balanced squad, RCB held their nerve in the final to secure their maiden IPL title, shedding the tag of perennial underachievers and rewarding years of faith from players and fans alike.While the men’s team battled for years to reach the summit, the women’s side brought quicker success. With the advent of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women emerged as a strong force. Led by Smriti Mandhana, they clinched their first title in 2024, marking the franchise’s first major trophy. They followed it up with another title-winning campaign in 2026, underlining their dominance in the competition.
While Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 continues to dominate the box office, there is chatter about what lies ahead for the high-octane franchise. Social media has been buzzing with speculation about a possible third instalment of the Aditya Dhar directorial. Amid the frenzy, casting director Mukesh Chhabra has reacted to the rumours.
Is Dhurandhar 3 happening?
The sequel to the 2025 blockbuster Dhurandhar, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, directed by Aditya Dhar, hit theatres on March 19. Soon after, rumours of part 3 started doing the rounds. Now, in an interview with Zoom, the film`s casting director, Mukesh Chhabra, has broken his silence and set the record straight.
The casting director responded to the rumours saying, “Aisa kuch nahi hone wala. Bahut sare rumours hai (Nothing like that is going to happen. There are a lot of rumours).” The casting director further added that if there is a rumour that needs to be addressed, he would address it on the social media platform, X (Twitter).
Rumours of Dhurandhar 3
A day before Dhurandhar: The Revenge released on March 19, director Aditya Dhar shared a note for fans, asking the audience to stay through the credits. In his Instagram post, he wrote, “Don’t leave your seats until the credits have stopped rolling.” This led to speculation about the announcement of Part 3 hidden in the credits.
Notably, soon after its release, an unverified clip emerged online claiming to be the end-credit slate hinting at Dhurandhar Part 3: The Mayhem. The clip even suggested that the third part will be released in June. While the clip has been identified as fake, it sparked enough excitement among fans. Many even treated it as confirmation of a third instalment.
However, the end credits of Dhurandhar: The Revenge did not make any such announcement regarding a third film. Instead, the end credits simply extend the story and leave some points of the plot open.
While the fake screenshot and the speculations kept fans confused and awaiting an official word on the future of the Dhurandhar franchise, Mukesh Chhabra’s statement puts an end to current rumours about Dhurandhar 3.
Ameesha Patel has shared her comments on the phenomenal box office success of Dhurandhar 2.
What Ameesha said about Dhurandhar 2
Taking to her X account on Tuesday evening, Ameesha wrote, “Eye opener. Industry Praising DHURANDHAR is wow and the brand deserves all the accolades (applause emoticons) industry needs to realise that ADITYA made a film and not a project,,casted actors and not instagrammars who trend at parties. Stop making projects and start making films.”
Dhurandhar 2 stars an ensemble of actors cast by Mukesh Chhabra. Apart from known names like Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, and Akshaye Khanna, the film also has several new faces and underrated actors, including Danish Pandor, Rakesh Bedi, Mustafa Ahmed, Gaurav Gera, Manav Gohil, Naveen Kaushik, Udaybir Sandhu, and Danish Iqbal.
About Dhurandhar 2
Dhurandhar is set in Lyari, Karachi, an area known for its history of gang wars and violent turf battles. The first film revolved around covert intelligence operations in the background of geopolitical and terror events like the Kandahar plane hijack, the 2001 Parliament Attack and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The sequel charts the rise of Ranveer’s character, Hamza Ali Mazari, in the Karachi underworld, while also delving into his origins as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, tracing the journey of the young man who eventually becomes a covert operative.
On Tuesday, Rajinikanth reviewed the film and shared it on X. He wrote, “What a film … #Dhurandhar2 !!! Aditya Dhar (hats off emoticon) box office -ka baap (father of the box office) !!! Many congratulations to Ranveer and the entire cast and crew. A must watch film for every indian. Jai hind.”
In response, Aditya said, “Sir, we’ve all grown up measuring ‘entertainment’ with just one benchmark, YOU. (red heart emoticon) Making us whistle, laugh, cry and feel larger than life for decades and still doing it with the same swag and grace, that’s pure magic. So for you to call Dhurandhar 2 a ‘must watch’ feels like the biggest ‘superstar’ moment of my life. It feels like a blessing from the very person who taught us all to dream bigger. Grateful beyond words, Sir. This one is going straight to the heart. Jai Hind.”
The Kolkata Knight Riders have announced the signing of Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for the injured Akash Deep. Dubey will join the KKR camp in preparation for the IPL 2026. The Vidarbha pacer was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad previously but has not made his IPL debut.
KKR`s injury list keeps growing as Akash Deep`s injury is the latest set-back for the 3 time champions. Harshit Rana is another Indian pacer ruled out of the tournament due to an injury. With Matheesha Pathirana yet to receive NOC from the Sri Lankan board, KKR`s bowling options are slim.
Akash Deep will miss the tournament due to a lumbar stress injury and will be under the care of the Board of Control for Cricket in India`s medical team at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Dubey was unsold in the mini-auction last December in Abu Dhabi at a base price of Rs 30 Lakh. The pacer was earlier signed by SRH in 2022, but an injury cut short his stint with the Hyderabad-based team.
Dubey last participated in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Vidarbha during the 2023–2024 season. He has previously played in four Vijay Hazare Trophy games for the state team during the 2020–21 campaign.
KKR are yet to announce a replacement for Harshit Rana despite holding trials for several pacers. However, the franchise has moved quickly to replace Akash Deep, naming Saurabh Dubey in the squad. The left-arm pacer will join KKR for Rs 30 lakh.
KKR are set to miss their main pacers due to injuries and suspension. Earlier, the Kolkata-based franchise announced Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, who they had earlier signed for big money at the auction. Now with Harshit Rana and Akash Deep out, and Pathirana`s participation still in doubt, KKR could struggle with their bowling.
MUMBAI: Your next bottle of soft drink could cost you more and chances are that you will get lesser value out of the pack of biscuits or chips you buy. Consumer goods companies are implementing a mix of selective price hikes and grammage cuts to pass on some of the steep rise in input costs to consumers. Some firms are also looking at the option of smaller packs to make products more accessible for consumers. The West Asia conflict, which has now entered its fourth week, has triggered a surge in crude oil prices, shooting up raw material costs for companies. Crude oil has a direct bearing on packaging and logistics costs. Besides, crude derivatives are also used to manufacture several household products. “Some price corrections were already overdue over the past two years. Given the current environment, we have advanced this decision and will be implementing selective price increases effective April 1. In certain larger SKUs (stock keeping units), the increase may be slightly higher as there was some flexibility available through trade margin adjustments,” said Nikhil Doda, co-founder and chief operating officer at Lahori Zeera.Parle Products is looking to take selective price actions or grammage adjustments, said chief marketing officer Mayank Shah. “A more immediate and critical concern at this stage is the availability of fuel itself. It is important that policymakers differentiate between industrial users, with priority given to sectors linked to essential commodities like food to ensure there is no disruption in supply,” Shah said. Dabur will take price hikes wherever necessary, a company spokesperson said without sharing additional details. For FMCG companies, which had been betting on GST cuts to spur consumption after a long spell of sluggishness, the war risks slowing the pace of demand recovery just when revival was in sight. Firms had underlined improving consumption trends in their Q3 earnings. AWL Agri Business is pushing a wide range of pack sizes to the retail shelves starting from 200 ml. “If inflationary pressures continue, smaller pack sizes may help consumers manage their monthly household budgets more efficiently,” said managing director & CEO Shrikant Kanhere.“Household staples from soaps to packaged foods face margin pressure as petrochemical inputs rise. FMCG firms are weighing price hikes vs pack reduction-balancing margin protection with consumer demand,” said analysts at The Knowledge Company, who estimate packaging costs to have surged by 15%-20% on higher crude prices.
