Over the weekend, Ajay Devgn sent the internet into a tizzy as he announced that his next directorial venture would be fronted by Akshay Kumar. This would be the two superstars’ seventh collaboration after Suhaag (1994), Khakee (2004), Insan (2005), Simmba (2018), Sooryavanshi (2021) and Singham Again. Now, it looks like the project could get more star-studded. mid-day has learnt that the film is a two-hero action comedy, and Devgn is keen to cast Vicky Kaushal as the parallel lead.
A source tells us that the superstar has been deeply impressed by Kaushal. “Ajay likes the actor’s dedicated approach to work. Since the entertainer sees the two lead characters playing off each other, Ajay felt it would be novel to team up Akshay and Vicky. Meanwhile, Akshay loved the story, as it sees him doing not only action, but also comedy—a genre he excels at,” says the source.
Things are, however, at a nascent stage, with the first draft being ready at the moment. Devgn is planning it such that the project can roll by September-October next year. After all, Kumar and his dates are blocked until then. The source adds, “Ajay is currently shooting for Son of Sardaar 2, after which he has De De Pyaar De 2, Ranger, and Indra Kumar’s Dhamaal 4.”
Mufasa: The Lion King will release on December 20.(Cinemacon)
New trailer out
The prequel, helmed by Barry Jenkins, is drawn from the 1994 animated classic The Lion King, which was adapted by Jon Favreau in 2019. The film will trace the story of Simba’s father, depicting his journey from an orphaned lion cub to a leader.
The two-minute trailer begins with Timon and Pumbaa having a candid conversation with Rafiki, the shaman and adviser to Simba. They give a fun twist to the song “Hakuna Matata” by changing it to “Hakuna Mufasa,” signalling a new direction for the story.
The trailer then shows Mufasa as a vulnerable cub, who learns to survive in the world alone after a flood separates him from his family. He is soon found by Taka, a young lion who introduces him to the ways of royal pride. Despite having different upbringings, they form a deep bond. The trailer then gives a glimpse of all the adventures of them together in the wild, the conflicts and the bonds.
About the film
Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, introducing an orphaned cub called Mufasa, a sympathetic lion named Taka — the heir to a royal bloodline — and their expansive journey alongside an extraordinary group of misfits.
About the cast of the film
Shah Rukh Khan has voiced the Mufasa in Hindi, with his son Aryan Khan lending his voice as Simba. Shah Rukh’s youngest son AbRam Khan has voiced Mufasa (cub). Sanjay Mishra as Pumbaa, Shreyas Talpade as Timon, Makarand Deshpande as Rafiki and Meiyang Chang as Taka.
When it comes to the Telugu version, Mahesh Babu has lent his voice for the role of Mufasa, Brahmanandam as Pumbaa, Ali as Timon, Satyadev as Taka and Ayyappa P Sharma as Kiros. It has just been announced that Tamil actor Arjun Das is the voice of Mufasa in Tamil.
Fans of both Shah Rukh and Mahesh Babu took to the comments sections of the respective trailers, praising their favourite star. However, no consensus could be reached on who is better.
The voices in English language of the film are – Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Taka), Tiffany Boone (Sarabi), Kagiso Lediga (Young Rafiki), Preston Nyman (Zazu), Mads Mikkelsen (Kiros), Thandiwe Newton (Eshe), Lennie James (Obasi), Anika Noni Rose (Afia), Keith David (Masego), John Kani (Rafiki), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), Billy Eichner (Timon), Donald Glover (Simba), Braelyn Rankins (Young Mufasa), and Theo Somolu (Young Taka).
Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King will be released in India on December 20 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. It is directed by Barry Jenkins.
President Biden’s decision to provide anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, and allow the use of long-range missiles on Russian territory comes as the Russian military is accelerating its gains along the front line.
Data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shows that Russia has gained almost six times as much territory in 2024 as it did in 2023, and is advancing towards key Ukrainian logistical hubs in the eastern Donbas region.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is faltering. Russian troops have pushed Kyiv’s offensive backwards. Experts have questioned the success of the offensive, with one calling it a “strategic catastrophe” given manpower shortages faced by Ukraine.
These developments come at a time of heightened uncertainty with a second Donald Trump administration looming. The US president-elect has vowed to bring the war to a close when he takes office in January, with some fearing he could cut future military aid to Ukraine.
Russia advances in eastern Ukraine
In the first few months of the war the front line moved quickly, with Russia gaining ground quickly before being pushed back by a Ukrainian counteroffensive. But in 2023 neither side made any major gains – with the conflict largely sliding into a stalemate.
But new ISW figures suggest the story in 2024 is more favourable for Russia. The ISW bases its analysis on confirmed social media footage and reports of troop movements.
The ISW data shows Moscow’s forces have seized around 2,700 sq km of Ukrainian territory so far this year, compared with just 465 sq km in the whole of 2023, a near six-fold increase.
Dr Marina Miron, a defence researcher at Kings College London, suggested to the BBC that there was a possibility the Ukrainian eastern front “might actually collapse” if Russia continued to advance at pace.
More than 1000 sq km was taken between 1 September and 3 November, suggesting the push accelerated in recent months. Two areas bearing the brunt of these advances are Kupiansk in Kharkiv region, and Kurakhove, a stepping stone to the key logistical hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region.
The ISW suggests that Russian forces have steadily advanced in eastern Ukraine.
Kupiansk and areas to the east of the Oskil river were liberated in the Kharkiv offensive of 2022, but Russia has progressively retaken the latter area. In a recent intelligence update, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said Russian forces were trying to breach the north-eastern outskirts of the city.
Footage posted on 13 November and verified by the BBC is consistent with this analysis. The video shows a convoy of Russian armour being repelled after making it to within 4km of the key bridge at Kupiansk, the last major road crossing in the area.
While these reports do not necessarily translate to control of an area, it is indicative of how stretched Ukraine’s defensive line has become.
Elsewhere, since retaking the city of Vuhledar in October – an elevated position which sits above key supply lines and which Moscow spent two years fighting for – Russia has thrown resources at Kurakhove.
Ukraine’s forces defending the city have so far repelled attacks to the south and east. But the front line creeps ever closer, with Russia also threatening to encircle defenders from the north and west.
Col Yevgeny Sasyko, a former head of strategic communications with Ukraine’s general staff, said Russia places “powerful jaws” around the flanks of a city that slowly “grind though” defences until they collapse.
Footage from the city verified by the BBC showed massive destruction, with residential buildings heavily damaged.
The ISW concludes Moscow now holds a total of 110,649 sq km in Ukraine. For comparison, Ukrainian forces seized just over 1,171 sq km in the first month of its incursion into Kursk – though Russian forces have now retaken nearly half of that territory.
Despite its territorial gains, Russia’s advance has come at a huge cost.
An analysis carried out by BBC Russian confirmed that at least 78,329 troops have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Moscow’s losses from September to November this year more than one-and-a-half times greater than the same period in 2023.
The losses are compounded by the “meat grinder” approach said to be favoured by Russian commanders – describing the waves of recruits thrown towards Ukrainian positions in a bid to exhaust troops.
Despite the Russian advances, some experts have noted that the actual speed of the offensive is still slow. David Handelman, a military analyst, suggested Ukrainian troops in the east were slowly withdrawing to preserve manpower and resources, rather than suffering from a broader collapse.
The Kursk gambit
Ukraine launched its shock incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August. It is unclear why Russia took so long to respond to the operation, which saw Kyiv’s troops quickly gain control over a number of border communities.
Dr Miron suggested that while the Kremlin would suffer a domestic political cost for as long as the incursion continued, Russia’s general staff had been keen to keep Ukraine’s forces tied down in Kursk as its forces made gains elsewhere along the front line.
But Moscow is now clearly intent on reclaiming the territory lost on its own soil. Some 50,000 troops have been deployed to the region.
Verified videos from the Kursk region show fierce fighting is taking place – and that Russia is suffering considerable losses in terms of manpower and equipment. But the data clearly shows Ukraine’s control of the region is shrinking.
Since the start of October, Russian counter-attacks have regained some 593 sq km worth of territory in the border region, ISW figures showed.
In Kursk, the ISW suggests Russia has steadily won back territory.
The Kursk incursion was initially a major boon for Ukraine in terms of morale at a time of serious setbacks, and the audacity of the operation was a reminder of its ability to surprise and harm its enemy.
But Dr Miron said while the Kursk incursion was a moment of “tactical brilliance” it has also been a “strategic catastrophe” for Ukraine.
“The whole idea was to maybe gain some political leverage in potential negotiations, but militarily to draw the Russian forces away from the Donbas in order to liberate Kursk. And what we’re seeing instead is that Ukrainian units are tied down there.”
Some of Kyiv’s most experienced and effective units are known to be fighting in Kursk. Mechanised units equipped with state-of-the-art Western armour are also involved in the offensive.
Ukrainian leaders had hinted that they hoped the incursion would force Moscow to redirect some of its forces from eastern Ukraine, slowing the Russian advance there. Instead, experts say most reinforcements were moved to Kursk from parts in Ukraine where the fighting is not as intense.
“According to Ukrainian soldiers from different parts of the front, the Russian troops reinforcing Kursk were mainly pulled from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia,” Yurri Clavilier, a land analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told the BBC.
“The fighting there is not as intense as it is in the East. Some Russian units attacking Kharkiv were also redirected to Kursk as Ukraine managed to stall the Russian onslaught there,” he added.
The importance of territory to both sides is the strength it lends to their position in any potential negotiations. Although no peace negotiations have been discussed, US President-elect Trump has claimed he could end the war within 24 hours, without saying exactly how.
On Tuesday, Ukraine fired US-supplied long-range missiles into Russia for the first time – a day after Washington gave it permission to do so. It is thought that the decision was made in part to help Ukraine hold on to part of the Kursk region, to use as a bargaining chip in future negotiations.
But Dr Miron told the BBC that Russia’s advance has handed them a stronger negotiating position as Trump’s new foreign policy team prepare to take office.
“What they’re controlling right now, it does give them a certain advantage,” she said. “If it came to negotiations, I’m sure that as the Russian side has been stressing, ‘we will do it based on the battlefield configuration’.
“From a Russian perspective, they have much better cards than the Ukrainians.”
AR Rahman and Saira Banu have announced their separation after nearly three decades of marriage, a decision that has sparked widespread discussion on social media. This announcement came as a shock to many fans, especially given the couple’s long-standing relationship and their shared life as parents to three children, Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen.
Rahman shared that their wedding coincided with a peak in his career, particularly in Bombay, which added complexities to their personal life. AR explained that the rapid rise in fame and the associated public attention made it difficult for them to lead a simple, private life. He said, “I got married at the peak of, you know, there and so that was actually a negative factor because we couldn’t lead a simple life. We couldn’t go out and we couldn’t, everything was private, you know, you can’t sit anywhere because people will come, you can’t go to a cafe and so I think she got used to that.” Despite these challenges, Rahman mentioned that his wife eventually adapted to their new lifestyle. He further added, “She’s been a pillar of support for me and we are, you know, a mother and father of three children. So that is very spiritual and having children is a very spiritual thing for me.” On November 19, Saira Banu’s lawyer, Vandana Shah, issued a statement announcing their separation. The statement highlighted the emotional strain in their relationship, “After many years of marriage, Mrs Saira has made the difficult decision to separate from her husband Mr. AR Rahman. This decision comes after significant emotional strain in their relationship. Despite their deep love for each other, the couple has found that the tensions and difficulties have created an insurmountable gap between them, one that neither party feels able to bridge at this time. Mrs Saira emphasised that she has taken this decision out of pain and agony. Mrs Saira requests privacy and understanding from the public during this challenging time, as she navigates this difficult chapter in her life,” the statement read. See More: AR Rahman’s wife Saira Banu announces separation; lawyer releases official statement
AR Rahman also took to social media to share his feelings about their separation. He wrote an emotional note on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for your kindness and for respecting our privacy as we walk through this fragile chapter.”
AR Rahman Pens Separation Note With A Bizarre Sign-Off, Leaving Fans ‘Disappointed’
New Delhi: Fans of Allu Arjun’s iconic Pushpa Raj can rejoice as the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise is gearing up for a grand re-release in Hindi on November 22, 2024. The announcement comes as excitement around the sequel, Pushpa 2: The Rule, skyrockets following the release of its much-awaited trailer.
A teaser video showcasing Allu Arjun in his unforgettable Pushpa Raj avatar was shared on social media, igniting a wave of excitement among fans eager to relive the film’s magic on the big screen.
This news arrives shortly after the grand trailer launch of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, where an unprecedented crowd of over 2 lakh fans gathered to witness the spectacular event. With Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna gracing the occasion, the trailer launch is already being hailed as a milestone moment in Indian cinema.
The sequel’s trailer has been breaking records, building immense anticipation for its December 5, 2024 release. Fans are eagerly awaiting the continuation of Pushpa Raj’s saga, with Allu Arjun’s powerful performance and Rashmika Mandanna’s reprisal of Srivalli capturing the audience’s imagination once again.
As Pushpa: The Rise returns to theaters, audiences will have another chance to experience its gripping action, memorable dialogues, and captivating drama that made it a cultural phenomenon. This re-release sets the perfect stage for the eagerly awaited sequel, ensuring that the legend of Pushpa Raj lives on.
Pushpa 2: The Rule, directed by Sukumar, stars Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, with music by T-Series. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings, the sequel is poised to be a cinematic event of epic proportions.
Diljit Dosanjh will perform in Lucknow on November 22. He will then travel to Pune to perform on November 24. He will wrap up the musical tour in Guwahati.
Diljit Dosanjh has been busy with his Dil-Luminati Tour in India.
Another show added in Mumbai
Diljit took to his Instagram handle on Wednesday to share the update by reposting a story about the new show. He will be performing in Mumbai on December 19. The poster read, “We heard you! Mumbai show announced”.
Reposting the image, Diljit wrote, “Lao ji finally ho gaya add Mumbai”. He also shared a GIF for an excited woman.
His Insta story.
Earlier, the singer had added more shows in Delhi and Jaipur too.
About Dil-Luminati Tour India
After touring across the US, Canada, and Europe, Diljit has brought Dil-Luminati Tour to India. The Dil-Luminati Tour established him as an international icon. His tour in India was met with a positive response, with his shows sold out within minutes. At that time, Diljit said he was “overwhelmed” with the response towards his upcoming Dil-Luminati India Tour 2024, which became the highest-grossing concert tour ever in India with the sale of 2.5 lakh tickets.
More about the tour
The India leg kicked off in Delhi on October 26. He also performed in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Actor Kartik Aaryan joined singer Diljit Dosanjh during his recent show in Ahmedabad, leaving the crowd ecstatic. Several videos and pictures of the duo performing on stage emerged on social media platforms.
After Ahmedabad, Diljit will perform in Lucknow on November 22 as part of his Dil-Luminati Tour. He will then travel to Pune to perform on November 24, Kolkata on November 30, Bengaluru on December 6, Indore on December 8, and Chandigarh on December 14. He will wrap up the musical tour in Guwahati on December 29.
Catch every big hit,…
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News/Entertainment/Music/ Diljit Dosanjh announces details of Mumbai show in Dil-Luminati India Tour: ‘Lao ji finally ho gaya add’
Actor Arjun Kapoor has reunited with his `Ishaqzaade` co-actor and his `Partner-In-Crime` Parineeti Chopra after ages.
On Tuesday, Arjun dropped a selfie with Parineeti on Instagram Stories and wrote, “Was good to be back on set with my favourite partner-in-crime after ages.”
They were shooting for a brand and spent good time with each other after a long time.
`Ishaqzaade` was helmed by Habib Faisal, and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, the 2012 flick marks Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor`s debut in Bollywood industry.
`Ishaqzaade` revolved around two influential political families, Chauhans and the Qureshis, whose rivalry and mutual hatred for one another goes back generations, and how the legacy of the rivalry is later followed by Parma Chauhan and Zoya Qureshi.
The romantic thriller ends on an emotional note where the duo ends up marrying each other and sacrificing their lives.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Arjun was last seen as an antagonist in `Singham Again`, which also stars Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff, Jackie Shroff, Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
On the other hand, Parineeti was last seen in `Amar Singh Chamkila`, in which she shared screen space with Diljit Dosanjh. Imtiaz Ali helmed the film.
Diljit portrays `Chamkila,` the top-selling artist of his era. Parineeti essays the role of Amar Singh Chamkila`s wife, Amarjot Kaur.
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Denzel Washington has opened up about his past drug and alcohol use, and even admitted to having “done a lot of damage” to his body. The 69-year-old Oscar winner has been sober for almost 10 years now.
Denzel Washington opens up about past alcohol use (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)(AFP)
The Gladiator II actor got candid about his past in the Winter issue of Esquire, explaining how his unhealthy habits started with wine. “Wine is very tricky. It’s very slow. It ain’t like, boom, all of a sudden,” he said in the interview.
Washington added, “I never got strung out on heroin. Never got strung out on coke. Never got strung out on hard drugs. I shot dope just like they shot dope, but I never got strung out.”
He further explained, “And I never got strung out on liquor. I had this ideal idea of wine tastings and all that — which is what it was at first. And that’s a very subtle thing. I mean, I drank the best.”
Washington revealed that he had a huge wine cellar in his home. He said he would often spend thousands of dollars on expensive bottles.
“I learned to drink the best. So I’m gonna drink my ’61s and my ’82s and whatever we had. Wine was my thing, and now I was popping $4,000 bottles just because that’s what was left,” he said. “And then later in those years I’d call Gil Turner’s Fine Wines & Spirits on Sunset Boulevard and say, ‘Send me two bottles, the best of this or that.’”
Washington’s wife, Pauletta, would ask him why he would order only two bottles at a time, and he would reply, “‘Because if I order more, I’ll drink more.’ So I kept it to two bottles, and I would drink them both over the course of the day.”
‘I’ve done a lot of damage to the body’
Washington said that although he did frequently use alcohol, he would never indulge while filming. “I never drank while I was working or preparing. I would clean up, go back to work — I could do both,” he said. “However many months of shooting, bang, it’s time to go. Then, boom. Three months of wine, then time to go back to work.”
Washington confirmed that he “wasn’t drinking” when he filmed Flight, 2012 drama in which he played an alcoholic pilot. “I’m sure I did as soon as I finished. That was getting toward the end of the drinking, but I knew a lot about waking up and looking around, not knowing what happened,” he said.
Washington finally quit drinking after his 60th birthday in December 2014. “I’ve done a lot of damage to the body. We’ll see. I’ve been clean,” the actor admitted.
Washington, who is set to turn 70 on December 28, said that “this is the last chapter.”
Recently, Washington announced that he would be retiring following his next set of films. “Things are opening up for me now — like being seventy. It’s real. And it’s okay,” he said. “This is the last chapter — if I get another thirty, what do I want to do? My mother made it to ninety-seven. I’m doing the best I can.”
As legendary music composer AR Rahman announced his separation from wife Saira Banu, after nearly three decades of marriage, attention has turned to his staggering net worth. Rahman, who one of India’s most influential musical figures, is also one of the highest-earning musicians in the country. As reported by DNA and other sources, the music maestro’s fortune stands at an impressive Rs 1,728 crore to Rs 2,000 crore. He is reportedly the country’s richest male singer, commanding an unrivalled fee of Rs 3 crore per song. See More: AR Rahman and Saira Banu announce separation: When singer spoke about conversion to Islam; revealed ‘Hindu astrologer gave me my Muslim name’ Known for his mastery and versatility, Rahman is also reportedly the highest-paid music composer in the country, reportedly charging up to Rs 10 crore per film.
His wealth generated from scoring films to creating his music and even live concert tours across the globe, endorsements, and other entrepreneurial ventures has reportedly even landed him the number 1 spot on the list of the richest musicians in the country. The Oscar-winning composer is also among the most awarded musicians with accolades including National Film Awards, Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, and a Padma Bhushan. See More: AR Rahman’s wife Saira Banu announces separation; lawyer releases official statement With Rahman’s divorce from wife Saira Banu’s now in the spotlight, it remains to be seen if this will go down as one of the most expensive divorces in the entertainment industry.
Saira’s lawyer Vandana Shah has released an official statement with regards to the couple’s decision to separate. The statement reads, “After many years of marriage, Mrs Saira has made the difficult decision to separate from her husband Mr AR Rahman. This decision comes after significant emotional strain in their relationship. Despite their deep love for each other, the couple has found that the tensions and difficulties have created an insurmountable gap between them, one that neither party feels able to bridge at this time.” “Mrs Saira emphasised that she has taken this decision out of pain and agony. Mrs Saira requests privacy and understanding from the public during this challenging time, as she navigates this difficult chapter in her life,” it added.
Mumbai: Bollywood power couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have reportedly rented out their luxurious flat for an impressive Rs. 7 lakh per month. The high-end property is located in a prime area of Mumbai and boasts stunning interiors, modern amenities, and a breathtaking view, reflecting the couple’s exquisite taste.
According to Square Yards, the apartment in Monde Towers Prabhadevi has a built-up area of 3,245 sq ft and a carpet area of 2,319.50 sqft. The lease agreement has been registered this month for three years with an initial security deposit of Rs 21 lakh. The flat is part of a premium residential complex and offers a lavish lifestyle with top-notch facilities such as a private gym, pool, and 24/7 security. The deal has made headlines, not just for the hefty rental amount, but also because of the couple’s status as one of Bollywood’s most beloved pairs.
Deepika and Ranveer, who tied the knot in 2018, currently reside in their multi-crore mansion in Mumbai, making this flat available for tenants. This news has further fueled discussions about celebrity investments and their high-value real estate portfolios.
The couple has recently welcomed their baby girl named Dua Padukone Singh and reportedly will soon shift in their lavish abode near Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat.
