Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has sparked a fresh debate about the state of Hindi cinema after criticising what he described as “fake” films being produced in the industry today. The actor shared his candid views during a recent public interaction, discussing storytelling, truth in cinema, and the role of filmmakers in shaping society.

Responding to the question, the actor stressed the importance of honesty in storytelling. According to him, filmmakers should avoid pushing society in the wrong direction, especially when audiences today are increasingly aware of the realities behind narratives portrayed on screen.

“Samaaj ko galat disha mein le jaane ki zarurat nahi hai. Sacchai bahut important hai, aur sacchai har insaan aaj ki date mein jaanta hai. Jis tarah ki filmein ban rahi hain, unke peeche ki sacchai kya hai, aap jaante hain, lekin aap bolenge nahi (There is no need to take society in the wrong direction. Truth is very important, and people today understand the reality behind the kind of films being made, but many choose not to speak about it.),” he said.

“Nahi, jhoothi filmein ban rahi hain hamare yahan. Fake filmein ban rahi hain. Yeh sab jaante hain. Duniya mein kya ho raha hai, sab jaante hain. Asli sacchai kya hai, yeh bhi sab jaante hain. Kya jhooth phailaya ja raha hai, aur kya narrative set kiya ja raha hai. Sab iske baare mein jaante hain,” he added. (No, false films are being made here. Fake films are being made. Everyone knows this. People know what is happening in the world and what the real truth is. People know what lies are being spread and what narrative is being set.)” he remarked.

Some users suggested that the comments were aimed at films such as The Kerala Story and Dhurandhar, both of which have previously faced criticism from sections of viewers who labelled them propaganda-driven. One user described Nawazuddin’s remarks as a “tight slap” to such films, while another claimed he had indirectly called out their makers.

Alia’s mother, veteran actor Soni Razdan, also took to Instagram. Sharing a couple of Alia’s pictures, she wrote, “Happy Birthday to a very special girl, our baby girl, our life. You are the most generous, kind and loving soul, and always have been. They say that in life, you receive what you give to others. May you receive all that goodness and so much more in return. May you continue to inspire us and everyone whose life you touch with your warmth and your beautiful spirit. And may your tribe always grow. Love you to the moon, the stars and back again…”

Alia’s sister and author Shaheen Bhatt also shared some adorable pictures highlighting their sisterly bond and wrote, “My anchor, my lifelong co-conspirator in this strange, beautiful life — you are woven into every good thing I know. Happy birthday, my (red heart emoji).”

Meanwhile, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, sister of Ranbir Kapoor, also shared a goofy picture with Alia and wrote, “Happy bday my Aaloo Pie. Love you.”

Meanwhile, on her birthday, Alia announced that she is expanding her production company, Eternal Sunshine Productions, by launching Eternal Kids. The actor revealed three projects under the new banner, sharing that the stories will revolve around the childhood tales she and her sister Shaheen grew up with.

Apart from this, Alia, along with her sister Shaheen Bhatt, is also producing an Amazon Prime Video original film titled Don’t Be Shy. While the cast has yet to be revealed, the film follows the story of Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das, a 20-year-old girl who believes she has everything figured out until her perfectly planned life takes an unpredictable turn and spirals out of her control.

In her announcement, Alia revealed that the film will feature romance, heartbreak, songs, girls and boys — and even a turtle. However, the project’s release date has not yet been announced.

Music composer Anirudh Ravichander is reportedly set to receive a record-breaking Rs 25 crore for his work on the upcoming film ‘AA23’. This project stars Allu Arjun and is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film is expected to be a massive action entertainer. This reported fee surpasses his previous earnings for Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’.

Anirudh Ravichander is one of the currently trending music composers in the Indian film industry. He began his career at a very young age and regaled audiences and industry professionals with his peppy songs. He has worked with many leading actors such as Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, and Ajith Kumar. Apart from Tamil movies, Anirudh has started working in the Hindi and Telugu language movie industries, becoming a part of the Indian film industry.

Anirudh Ravichander hikes his salary for ‘AA23‘

Next up, the music director will work with Lokesh Kanagaraj and Allu Arjun in their forthcoming big-budget film, currently referred to as ‘AA23.’ As per a Nakkheeran report, Anirudh has been offered approximately Rs 25 crore for the project. With this massive salary, Anirudh Ravichander is set to emerge as one of the highest paid composers in India. The film is said to be mounted on a massive budget of nearly Rs 800 crore and will be produced by a leading banner. Shooting is expected to begin in July, and the team has already started working on the music compositions in Hyderabad. The project is expected to be a large-scale action entertainer.

Higher than his pay for Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’

Interestingly, this reported salary is said to be higher than what Anirudh received for Coolie starring Rajinikanth and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. For that film, Anirudh is believed to have charged around Rs 10 crore to Rs 12 crore. The composer’s work in major star projects has made him one of the most bankable names in the industry. His music albums often become chartbusters even before the film’s release, which has further increased his market value.

Anirudh scores for Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’

Apart from the Allu Arjun–Lokesh film and ‘Coolie,’ Anirudh is also composing music for ‘Jana Nayagan’ starring Vijay. For this film, reports suggest he is being paid around Rs 15 crore. With multiple big projects in hand and top actors lining up to work with him, Anirudh continues to set new records in the music industry. If the Rs 25 crore deal for the Allu Arjun–Lokesh project is confirmed, it could become one of the highest salaries ever received by an Indian music composer.DISCLAIMER: Figures presented in this article are derived from public sources and are considered approximate unless explicitly noted. We may include direct input from celebrities or their teams when available. We are open to feedback on toientertainment@timesinternet.in.