Actor Divya Dutta says she doesn’t agree with the “supporting actor” label, adding that she has consistently chosen roles that challenge the conventional definitions of “lead” and “supporting” characters.

“I am an actor, and I would like to be called so. A few years back, it (categorisation) was a slightly strange concept. Now it’s a given. (At times) it’s like, ‘Okay, I want to do a character-driven role. I’m okay romancing the hero, but I also want to do more than just be a dumb character,” she said.

During the conversation, she also questioned the long-standing belief that roles not driven by romance or the traditional hero narrative are automatically labelled as “supporting” parts.

Divya shared, “Just because I wasn’t romancing the hero, didn’t (automatically) mean that I was ‘supporting’ somebody. I’m not here to support anyone. I support myself. I would like to play an antagonist, I would like to do some comedy, I would like to be the main lead in a film. I would like to do a smaller role but the most significant. If you see my filmography, my roles have been the best roles in the film and the most pivotal to the story.”

Reflecting on her early years in the industry, Divya said that not being boxed into a fixed image or label actually worked to her advantage. While many actors strive to cultivate a distinct screen persona, she chose to embrace the uncertainty instead. She mentioned that people didn’t know where she belonged, and she loved that feeling because she didn’t want an image. She wanted to do everything.

Next, Divya is set to feature in drama series Chiraiya, which will release on JioHotstar on March 20. Produced by SVF Entertainment, the six-episode series is directed by Shashant Shah and also features Sanjay Mishra. It is described as a “powerful social drama aiming to raise awareness and highlight the necessity of a mindset shift regarding the critical topic of marital rape in India.”

The series revolves around the life of Kamlesh (Divya), the ideal daughter-in-law of a close-knit family, whose seemingly stable world begins to shatter when she discovers that her sister-in-law Pooja is facing sexual abuse within her marriage. As difficult truths begin to unfold, Kamlesh finds herself torn between protecting her family’s honour and standing up for what is right. The series also feature Siddharth Shaw, Prasanna Bisht, Faisal Rashid, Tinnu Anand, Sarita Joshi and Anjum Saxena.

Filmmaker Priyadarshan has come out in support of actor Rajpal Yadav after the latter was granted interim bail in a cheque bounce case. The director, who has collaborated with Yadav in several films over the years, described him as an “innocent” person who got caught in a “trap”.

Filmmaker Priyadarshan has come out in support of actor Rajpal Yadav after the latter was granted interim bail in a cheque bounce case. The director, who has collaborated with Yadav in several films over the years, described him as an “innocent” person who got caught in a “trap”.Rajpal Yadav was recently granted interim bail in a Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case related to a loan taken for his 2010 film Ata Pata Laapata. The actor had reportedly borrowed Rs 5 crore from businessman Madhav Gopal Agrawal for the film, with the amount later rising to Rs 9 crore due to interest and penalties. He has deposited Rs 1.5 crore and has been granted interim relief until March 18.

‘Our relationship will never change’

Speaking about the actor and their long-standing friendship, Priyadarshan said he has known Rajpal for many years and believes he is one of the most genuine people in the industry.“My relationship with Rajpal, I have known him for many years, and I would say that he is the most innocent actor I have ever seen,” he told ANI.The filmmaker added that Yadav’s trusting nature may have landed him in trouble.

“This guy was so innocent that he got into a trap, and for that, our relationship will never change. If it had been somebody else, so many people would not have come together to help him. There were so many people ready to help him because they understand how innocent this guy is. You can see the innocence in his face, and the same innocence is also in his heart,” Priyadarshan said. Priyadarshan and Rajpal Yadav share a long professional association spanning over two decades. The actor has been part of several popular comedies directed by Priyadarshan, including Hungama, Garam Masala, Malamaal Weekly, Chup Chup Ke, Bhagam Bhaag, Dhol and Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

Aamir Khan celebrated his 61st birthday on March 14 and marked the occasion with a special video message for his fans. The actor revealed that he has spent the last few months focusing on selecting scripts and is now gearing up to concentrate more on acting.

Aamir Khan celebrated his 61st birthday on March 14 and marked the occasion with a special video message for his fans. The actor revealed that he has spent the last few months focusing on selecting scripts and is now gearing up to concentrate more on acting.In the video shared by fan page ‘Aamir Khan Universe’, the actor thanked fans for their continued love and support while giving a glimpse into what he has been working on recently.“Thank you so so much for all the love you have given me all this time. And it really means a lot to me. I have been working hard at selecting scripts now for the upcoming films. And last six months I’ve only been listening to scripts. So I’ve finally decided on the next couple of films that I’m going to be doing,” Aamir said.While he did not reveal the titles of the projects he has finalised, the actor hinted that audiences will soon see more of him on screen.

Aparna Purohit to handle Aamir Khan Productions

The actor also announced a major restructuring at his banner, Aamir Khan Productions. Aamir revealed that producer and executive Aparna Purohit will now oversee the day-to-day functioning of the production house.“And here onwards, Aamir Khan Productions—because I used to spend a lot of time with my production house as well—is going to be handled by Aparna Purohit. And I am focusing on acting. So hopefully you will see a lot more work from me as an actor,” he said.

Two productions lined up for release this year

Aamir also confirmed that two films backed by his production house are scheduled to release this year. The first is Ek Din, starring Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi, which is slated to release on May 1.This will be followed by Lahore 1947 in August. The superstar also hinted at another project titled Ati Sundar, which is expected to arrive towards the end of the year. At present, Aamir is closely involved in the post-production work of Ek Din, a romantic drama directed by Sunil Pandey. The film is produced by Aamir along with Mansoor Khan and Aparna Purohit.As the May 1, 2026 theatrical release approaches, the actor is said to be personally ensuring that every aspect of the film’s production is completed smoothly.

He wrote, “After Anurag Bhai’s condition stabilised yesterday, he was discharged and we were taking him to Dehradun. Unfortunately, during the transfer his health deteriorated again. He started having breathing difficulties. We are now taking him to the nearest hospital for immediate medical attention. He is currently fighting hard for his life.”

In the video, he also alleged that his parents and his brother, Kalam, had “taken away everything” from him and said they would be responsible if anything happened to him. Later, Anurag’s brother responded to the claims, stating that the allegations were one-sided. He also alleged that Anurag’s wife Ritika had left him because of his alleged wrongdoings and claimed that the YouTuber was doing all of this for views.

A day later, Anurag went live on Instagram and allegedly attempted suicide by crashing his car. He was reportedly driving his Toyota Fortuner on the Delhi–Meerut Expressway, with the speedometer reportedly showing 140–150 kmph. During the livestream, he told viewers that he felt completely alone and had no one left to call. He described it as his “final ride” before crashing the vehicle.

The YouTuber suffered fractures, as revealed by his manager, and was admitted to hospital immediately. His wife Ritika, also visited him at the hospital.

Following the incident, on March 10, Anurag’s brother Kalam claimed that the YouTuber’s fans had gathered outside their house and were threatening to “burn them alive”. He also alleged that Anurag had previously filed cases against him and their family for domestic violence, caste prejudice and dowry harassment, which were later withdrawn in December. Anurag is yet to respond to his brother’s statements.

If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to a mental health professional. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +91 44 2464 0050; Sanjivini Society for Mental Health: 011-24311918.