After its billion-dollar run at the box office, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, the third instalment of the James Cameron directorial, will soon be available to stream online.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ set for digital debut
The film that hit theatres in December, is now gearing up for its digital debut on March 31, according to a report on People. The film’s OTT debut comes after completing its theatrical run. Fans can also get their hands on a physical copy of the film, later this year, on May 19.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ box office collection
The film, that served as a sequel to ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’, was a commercial success, despite failing to outperform the first two films of the saga. ‘Fire and Ash’ crossed the USD 1 billion mark at the global box office in January, just weeks after its release. However, due to a slow down in its numbers, the film ultimately concluded its theatrical run with an estimated collection of USD 1.48 billion.
James Cameron on the future of ‘Avatar’ franchise
Despite the film becoming the third movie in the franchise to cross USD 1 billion, Cameron hinted at challenges to take the franchise ahead with two more films awaiting their release. Doubt about the two upcoming films arose when the director, during an appearance at the Saturn Awards on March 8, suggested, “We need to figure out how to make Avatar movies more inexpensively in order to continue.” He added that the films are “likely, but not 100%”.
‘Avatar 4‘ and ‘Avatar 5‘ announced
Prior to the release of ‘Fire and Ash’, the director had announced two additional films in the ‘Avatar’ series which are currently in development. Though the timelines remain uncertain, ‘Avatar 4’ was scheduled for December 21, 2029, and ‘Avatar 5’ scheduled for a tentative December 19, 2031, release.
Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, has seen rapid growth as wars intensify across Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon. Al Jazeera’s Hala Al Shami examines how the company benefits from ongoing conflicts, its links to policy-making, and activist efforts to force its shutdown.
Just before IPL19 begins, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium will include at its core an XI that has slipped from public memory: Divyanshi BS, 14, Shivalanga Chandappa, 17, Shravan KT, 18, Chinmayi Shetty, 19, Bhoomik Lakshman, 19, Manoj Kumar 20, Prajwal G, 22, Sahana Rajesh, 25, Akshata Pai, 26, Poorna Chandra, 26 and Kamakshi Devi, 29. They are, in order of age, the 11 fans who died in a stampede at the stadium on the afternoon of June 4, 2025.
Karnataka State Cricket Association president Venkatesh Prasad and police personnel inspect arrangements at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru ahead of IPL. (PTI)
That stampede is India’s most grievous sporting disaster this century. On August 26, 1980, 16 fans died during a Kolkata Derby at the Eden Gardens; again in a stampede that followed fighting in the stands. On November 26, 1995, 13 people were killed when a badly-built wall collapsed in Nagpur’s VCA Stadium during an India v New Zealand ODI. A recent newspaper report from Nagpur said the incident case file didn’t contain the charge sheet, the investigating officer’s name and nobody knew the status of the case in the police station where the FIR was registered.
Football in Kolkata moved to the Salt Lake stadium and international cricket in Nagpur to Jamtha. Cricket continues at the Chinnaswamy, with the new edition of IPL after nine months, and while it is of no comfort to the families who lost loved ones, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has ensured they will not be forgotten. Eleven seats in a premier stand will always be left empty never to be sold or occupied — as a mark of respect and memory to the XI.
When I read the news, it as if the vision of a magazine design team had come to life. Last year, I wrote about the Chinnaswamy for Luru Magazine, a quarterly, print-only city publication, speaking to cricketers, fans, architects and urban planners. I asked how the Chinnaswamy XI could be included as a part of a re-imagining of a beloved cricket ground that had witnessed the horror.
Architects said the XI’s names should become a visible element in the new design, maybe engraved in the walls for spectators to run their hands over or part of the landscaping. Only when the issue was released in November last year, did I see the stunning double-spread image by design lead Aditya Bharadwaj and creative director Raghav Krishna.
The image showed a grey bank of KSCA’s stands, 11 yellow empty seats, separated by an insert with the names of the eleven who had lost their lives. This was more than a plaque with their names, more than a one-time minute’s silence in their memory. We will remember the XI from those empty seats. Seek forgiveness and say ‘never again.’ Anywhere.
Chinnaswamy, structurally the oldest of the five traditional Test centres, has an opportunity to become the venue that sets the template for improved crowd safety and comfort in Indian cricket stadia. Unlike the others — Kotla, Wankhede, Chepauk and Eden Gardens — it has only had piecemeal changes in its 50 years but no structural revamp.
Till late last year, its spectator stands, in particular, were shabby, with broken staircases tiles, limited disability access and multi-level, obstacle-course entry areas. The members seating areas had potholes in the stands and dirty seats. The previous administration of the KSCA has to take much blame for the state of the stadium and how it was run post the bucket-seat upgrade in 2011. The new administration’s promises of improvement, spectator comfort and safety will need to be visible in concrete and cement and plastic.
Before the IPL opener, we read about mock drills being conducted. The space occupied by the Chinnaswamy’s B-ground will be turned into a large public concourse during matches. A raised walkway protecting the wickets and the ground is aimed at ensuring smooth entry of spectators before they disperse to their various stands without crowding the public roads outside the stadium.
But these changes — part of only the short-term implementation phase of the remodelling of the stadium — are the very least required. Once the IPL is done, there should be no going back to the old bandaid-ed KSCA. Three months after the tragedy, I saw fire sprinklers being installed in the walkways under the Chinnaswamy. Dozens of empty red boxes waited to house extinguishers. KSCA election delay was the mumbled explanation for everything.
In 2020-2021, during the Architect Premier League, a senior KSCA official had asked organiser-architects about the best way to renovate the ground. They were told, before anything else, KSCA needed to conduct a fire and safety audit. In January 2025, an RTI query from a member asked KSCA when the last fire and safety audit had been conducted at the Chinnaswamy. The RTI reply: ‘we don’t have to answer this’.
KSCA’s offices have framed architectural drawings of a renovated Chinnaswamy, dating from the 2013-2017 administration. Matching the ideas of architects and planners for my story, that design shows a modern city-centre stadium, free of walls and barbed wire, with entry at door, not gate. It’s highly unlikely that the KSCA will give any of its walled real estate to the urban commons.
Regardless, post IPL19, a stand-by-stand reconstruction of the stadium is mandatory. Its terrible tragedy reminds us that the new Chinnaswamy’s priorities should be spectator experience, crowd control and transit access. Before increasing spectator capacity to 50,000 and adding VIP parking. Because Chinnaswamy matters; its original home, its fans past, present and those taken from us, matter. When a rumour circulated that a 100,000-seater stadium was being built in a Bangalore suburb, a cricketer said, “that’s like moving Tirupati to a hillock somewhere else and expecting its aura to remain.”
Bhooth Bangla is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated films of 2026, marking the much-awaited reunion of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan after a long gap of 14 years. The iconic duo, known for delivering cult comedy classics, has already created significant buzz with their collaboration. Backed by Balaji Motion Pictures, the film continues to build excitement among audiences.
Tu Hi Dissda out
Adding to the anticipation, the makers have now released the second song, Tu Hi Dissda, bringing a refreshing romantic layer to this horror-comedy entertainer.
Following the first track, Ram Ji Aake Bhala Karenge, the newly released Tu Hi Dissda shows Akshay Kumar and Wamiqa Gabbi in a dreamy romantic avatar. The song beautifully highlights their beautiful chemistry, complemented by mesmerizing visuals. Set against scenic backdrops of waterfalls, lush greenery, and picturesque mountains, the track exudes a soothing and romantic vibe. It`s a cool and breezy song, which is perfect for summer love.
Enhancing the song’s charm further, it is sung by Arijit Singh and Nikhita Gandhi, whose soulful voices add depth and emotion to the visuals. The execution feels both natural and visually captivating, offering a glimpse of Priyadarshan’s signature storytelling style, making the song a delightful watch.
About Bhooth Bangla
The makers recently unveiled the teaser of Bhooth Bangla, and it quickly took the internet by storm. Audiences are thrilled to witness the return of classic comic one-liners, a touch of horror, and the much-awaited reunion of Akshay Kumar with Priyadarshan. The excitement has only grown stronger with the return of legendary actors like Paresh Rawal, Asrani, and Rajpal Yadav, adding to the film’s nostalgic charm and ensemble appeal.
Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in association with Cape of Good Films, presents Bhooth Bangla starring Akshay Kumar, Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, and Rajpal Yadav. Directed by Priyadarshan and Produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, and Ektaa R Kapoor. Releasing in theatres on 10th April, 2026.
MUMBAI: The accepted wisdom, for years, was that global uncertainties and inflation would drive the prices of precious metals northward. The war in West Asia is challenging that direction of causality.Despite heightened global uncertainties and fear of oil-price-led inflation, the price of the two precious metals-gold and silver-have slid southward. And market players and analysts said that the changing global market and economic structure that slowed down de-dollarisation moves compared to the pre-war period, as well as fear of rising rate of interest due to higher inflation is pulling down prices of these two precious metals. In addition, several of the central banks, that were buyers of the yellow metal for months, have started selling. And in the case of silver, slowdown in industrial demand is a factor that’s weighing down prices, market players said.Consider this: Since the war started, the price of gold in the local market has fallen 12% to about Rs 1.4 lakh/10 grams while silver is down 14% to Rs 2.3 lakh/kg. In the international market, gold is down 16.5% to $4,367/ounce (Oz) while silver is now at $68.5/Oz.The slide is even more sharp if we consider their all-time peak prices, recorded end-Jan this year. In the domestic market, gold has lost 19% while silver is down 41%. And in the international markets, gold has shed 20% and silver 42%.According to a local fund manager, for the past couple of years there has been a de-dollarisation wave, meaning economies trying to move away from dollar as the primary currency for international trade. This in turn led to a slide in the price of dollar, reflected in the slide in the dollar index, an index that shows the price of dollar against a basket of major currencies.Since Sept 2022, from a high of 114, dollar index had fallen to a low of 97 by mid-Feb this year. With precious metals all priced in dollars, this resulted in prices of these metals being cheaper in other major currencies, leading to higher demand and rising prices.“The war has slowed down the de-dollarisation move,” said the fund manager. “Also war has raised the spectre of inflation that in turn could lead to a higher rate of interest. Large buyers of precious metals keep their holdings in warehouses, paying the rents with borrowed money. With prospects of higher interest rates on the horizon, warehouse rents would also rise and therefore some profit taking by selling a part of their holdings which were in profit,” the fund manager said.There are analysts who are also indicating these factors for the recent bearish sentiment in precious metals.According to a note by Jateen Trivedi, VP research analyst, commodity & currency, LKP Securities, despite some recent gains in precious metals, the upside remains capped as the broader macroeconomic environment is still not supportive. “Despite temporary relief, markets continue to factor in inflation risks from elevated crude prices and uncertainty around interest rate trajectory, which keeps gold sentiment fragile.“For silver, which in the domestic market has lost over 40% from its all-time peak in late-Jan, a slide in industrial demand due to the war is also a factor, analysts said.
Ranveer Singh with Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar.
What Aditya Dhar said
The superstar whose review has meant the most to Aditya Dhar is none other than Rajinikanth, who took to his X account on Monday evening to share his thoughts on the film. He said, “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.”
About Dhurandhar 2
Dhurandhar 2 released on Thursday in theatres, but only after a record-breaking premiere on Wednesday. It had a record ₹145 crore start domestically and ₹240 crore gross worldwide. So far, the film has collected ₹850 crore worldwide.
The first film showed Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy who infiltrates gangs in Lyari to eliminate a terror network targeting India while also climbing the power ladder within Pakistan’s underworld. It 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 showed how he was trained to become Hamza Ali Mazari. It also takes the story forward, showing him taking control of the power dynamics in Lyari while working to dismantle a terror network in Pakistan that threatens India. The film also featured an intense face-off between Arjun Rampal and Ranveer. Dhurandhar 2 also stars R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, Sara Arjun, Danish Pandor and Sanjay Dutt.
Mumbai: Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone have signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise that will include both the men and women’s teams.The Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchises are being acquired from United Spirits Limited (USL), a subsidiary of Diageo plc. The transaction has valued the franchise at US$1.78b (approx. INR 16,600 crore).
Watch
RCB’s big changes ahead of IPL: New rules, tribute & squad update
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval from BCCI, the IPL governing council and other authorities.The franchise, under its new ownership structure post the 2026 edition, will see Aryaman Vikram Birla, director at Aditya Birla Group serve as chairman while Satyan Gajwani of the Times of India Group will be the vice-chairman.“Over the past 2 decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket creating enormous value for India. RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy of institution-building into the arena of global sport. We are delighted to become custodians of this asset and committed to further building this extraordinary legacy,” said Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group.
File photo of Kumar Mangalam Birla of the Aditya Birla Group.
Times Internet Limited’s Gajwani said in a media note, “RCB is the reigning champion and the most popular brand in the IPL. As The Times of India Group, together with our partners, we will build RCB into a global sporting institution, while remaining rooted in Bengaluru and Karnataka and its incredible fanbase. We are committed to the people who built this championship-winning culture – the players, coaches, the leadership team, and the fans. We look forward to supporting the team as they take the pitch on Saturday to defend RCB’s title.”
File photo of Satyan Gajwani of the Times of India group.
Adar Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India, Ranjan Pai of Manipal Hospitals, private equity firms EQT, TPG and Temasek and the Glazer family that owns the Manchester United club were among the other interested bidders when Diageo Plc had first initiated the process to sell RCB.In 2008, when the BCCI floated IPL, United Spirits had submitted a winning bid of US$111.6m (approx Rs 485 cr) to acquire the Bangalore franchise. In 2023, the RCB management had paid another Rs 901 crore to acquire the WPL team. In 2024, RCB won the WPL and followed it up with their first-ever IPL title win in 2025.The franchise has featured some of T20’s greatest icons including Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Anil Kumble, Glenn Maxwell, Yuvraj Singh and Faf du Plessis among others.
Virat Kohli led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team before Rajat Patidar took over. (Photo Credit- X/RCB)
In 2013, after Kohli took over as captain of the IPL, the franchise’s popularity catapulted from being just one among the eight teams to becoming one of the most popular and sought-after properties in the tournament.Kohli’s rise as Team India captain and cricket’s most authoritative brand coincided with RCB’s rise as one of IPL’s most followed teams. Despite the lack of a title win in 17 years, the franchise acquired mass following among fans in Karnataka, across the country and social media.As of 2026, RCB remains right on top where its social media reach and general popularity across broadcast media is concerned.In 2025, Brand Finance had listed RCB as IPL’s second most valuable brand after Mumbai Indians and among the top three strongest IPL brands alongside Mumbai and Chennai. The same year, global investment bank Houlihan Lokey had also listed the RCB as IPL’s foremost brand.
Actor Fardeen Khan recently found himself at the centre of social media chatter after he was spotted at an event in Mumbai with a woman dressed in black. The video quickly caught everyone’s attention, with several social media users assuming she was his wife, Natasha Madhvani. However, putting the speculation to rest, Fardeen has now clarified that the woman accompanying him was not his wife.
Fardeen Khan gave a clarification and set the record straight when he attended another event in Mumbai.
Fardeen Khan clarifies
Fardeen gave a clarification and set the record straight when he attended another event in Mumbai. He expressed his views when he was leaving the HELLO! Hall of Fame event, held in Mumbai recently.
In the clip, the actor is seen immediately correcting photographers, clarifying that the woman with him is not his wife but his sister, Laila Khan. He also addressed the confusion seen in multiple paparazzi videos, noting that many had incorrectly identified her.
In the video, Fardeen can be heard saying, “Yeh meri behen hai, biwi nahi hai. Bahut saare handles mein aap log yahi likhte hai ke yeh meri biwi hai (She is my sister, not my wife. On many handles, you people keep writing that she is my wife).” Later, Fardeen’s sister is seen laughing at the remark, and saying, “It was much needed.”
This comes amid reports that Fardeen has hit a rough patch with his wife. Laila Khan is Fardeen’s sister and the daughter of the late actor Feroz Khan. She is married to businessman Farhan Furniturewala and largely stays away from the limelight.
About Fardeen Khan’s personal life
Fardeen got married to Natasha Madhvani in December 2005. Natasha is the daughter of Mumtaz and Mayur Madhvani, a Ugandan businessman, entrepreneur, and industrialist of Indian origin. Fardeen and Natasha have a daughter named Diani Isabella Khan and a son named Azarius Fardeen Khan.
In 2023, there were reports claiming that Fardeen and Natasha have ‘decided to part ways amicably’. As per a Times of India report, Fardeen and Natasha have been living separately for over a year. Amid the divorce rumours, Fardeen revealed that he missed being a part of his children’s daily life and watching them grow. He shared that whenever his kids come to Mumbai, he puts his entire schedule on hold just to spend time with them.
On the work front, the actor made his comeback to showbiz with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi. He was most recently seen in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Housefull 5, which also featured Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Bajwa, Nana Patekar, Sanjay Dutt, and Jackie Shroff among others. The film emerged as a box office success, earning ₹300 crore worldwide.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested MS Dhoni should retire rather than play as an impact player. The commentator further added that this could be Dhoni`s final year playing for the Chennai Super Kings.
Speaking before the start of the season, Aakash Chopra said that MS Dhoni should hand over the reins to the younger players and that it could finally be Dhoni`s last season give the signing of Sanju Samson.
“You do not run the team from the dugout; it`s not football. In any case, I feel this could be Dhoni`s last season. Sanju Samson will eventually don the gloves; it could even happen at some stage during this season. But MS Dhoni cannot be the Impact Player. If he is playing as an Impact Player, I think it`s time for him to hang up his boots,” said Aakash Chopra on JioStar`s `IPL Today Live`.
Aakash also believed that, given the number of young players in the team, Dhoni may no longer be the “unofficial captain” of CSK and has taken a backseat. Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, and Urvil Patel added some six-hitting and bravery to CSK`s lineup during a dismal season last year.
“There is a small analogy. If you want your baby to start walking, you need to hold their hand and teach them. If you keep holding on, they will never learn to run. From Dhoni`s point of view, if somebody has been anointed as the next Captain, then he has to take a backseat, and I think he already has,” he said.
“If you look at the auction and the way the team has been built, it is not the team MS Dhoni would have built if it were left entirely to him. This is Ruturaj Gaikwad`s team,” he added.
Chennai Super Kings full squad for IPL 2026:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Sarfaraz Khan, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Akeal Hosein, Rahul Chahar, Matt Henry.
It’s time to head back to Hogwarts with the first official glimpse of the upcoming web series ‘Harry Potter’. The first look at the new series was unveiled on Tuesday, offering fans an early look at their new Harry, with Dominic McLaughlin taking on the iconic role from Daniel Radcliffe.
Harry Potter first look unveiled
The image, shared on all social media handles, captures McLaughlin walking toward a Quidditch pitch, dressed in a red-and-gold cloak, the colours of House Gryffindor. The image shows the name Potter displayed beside the number 7.
Details unveiled in ‘Harry Potter’ first look
Set against a snowy backdrop, the image also features a large group of students on the pitch, with banners for Gryffindor and Hufflepuff visible in the stands. Additionally, another banner appears to be dedicated to supporting Fred and George Weasley. Fans also got a glimpse of a broom resembling the Nimbus 2000, only adding to the excitemen among fans.
‘Harry Potter’ trailer to relase online today
The first look dropped online ahead of the trailer release, scheduled to be released later today.About the ‘Harry Potter’ seriesAs per Variety, the show will follow Harry as he discovers he’s a wizard, leaves his Muggle family behind and sets off to attend Hogwarts. Along the way, he befriends Ron and Hermione Granger and battles Lord Voldemort.
‘Harry Potter’ cast
Currently in production at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the series, an adaptation of JK Rowling’s globally popular book series, also stars Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. The supporting cast includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.The show will be directed by Mark Mylod.
!["MS Dhoni should retire instead of playing as an impact player": Aakash Chopra](https://i1.wp.com/images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/ipl%20news,%20ipl%202026,%20ipl%20latest%20news,%20ipl%20updates,%20ipl%20match%20updates,%20ipl%20photos,%20ipl%20photo%20gallery,%20ipl%20match%20photos,%20indian%20premier%20league%20news,%20indian%20premier%20league%20updates,%20ipl%20live%20score%202026-1774340372810_d.png?w=696&resize=696,0&ssl=1 ""MS Dhoni should retire instead of playing as an impact player": Aakash Chopra")
!["MS Dhoni should retire instead of playing as an impact player": Aakash Chopra](https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/ipl%20news,%20ipl%202026,%20ipl%20latest%20news,%20ipl%20updates,%20ipl%20match%20updates,%20ipl%20photos,%20ipl%20photo%20gallery,%20ipl%20match%20photos,%20indian%20premier%20league%20news,%20indian%20premier%20league%20updates,%20ipl%20live%20score%202026-1774340372810_d.png ""MS Dhoni should retire instead of playing as an impact player": Aakash Chopra")
