BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, February 9 - After the successful Sankranthi 2026, the next year's festive period is already getting stacked with multiple blockbusters. According to the latest buzz, the 2027 festive season will witness a powerful clash of films led by Chiranjeevi, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Venkatesh Daggubati, and Nagarjuna Akkineni. Megastar Chiranjeevi is teaming up with director Bobby, a combination that has already generated strong excitement among fans. Known for blending mass appeal with emotional drama, the project is expected to be mounted on a grand scale, perfectly suited for a Sankranthi release. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the other hand, Nandamuri Balakrishna has collaborated once again with Gopichand Malineni, a duo that has previously delivered a solid mass entertainer. Given Balakrishna's massive festive pull and Malineni's knack for high-voltage action dramas, this film is already being tipped as a major crowd-puller. Adding a strong family entertainer to the mix, Venkatesh is once again joining hands with hitmaker Anil Ravipudi. With their proven success in the comedy-family genre, this film is likely to target the family audience that traditionally dominates the Sankranthi season. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Completing the powerhouse lineup is Nagarjuna, who is reportedly collaborating with Kalyan Krishna. The project is said to balance class and mass elements, aligning well with Nagarjuna's evolving on-screen image in recent years. If these projects come on the planned period, Sankranthi 2027 could turn into one of the most competitive and star-studded festive seasons in Telugu cinema history, proving once again that senior heroes continue to command unmatched box office dominance. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Rani Mukerji's gritty crime thriller Mardaani 3 has shown remarkable resilience at the box office, witnessing a significant surge in collections during its second weekend. After a steady opening week, the film benefited from strong word-of-mouth and the established popularity of the franchise to post impressive numbers on its second Saturday and Sunday. The film concluded its first week with a collection of ₹26.3 Cr India net. Entering its second week, the film saw a typical Friday dip, earning ₹1.85 Cr on Day 8. However, the momentum shifted dramatically on Day 9 (second Saturday) as the film recorded a massive growth of 89.19%, bringing in ₹3.5 Cr. The upward trend continued into Day 10 (second Sunday), with the film collecting an estimated ₹4.25 Cr, a further jump of 21.43% from Saturday. This strong weekend performance indicates that the audience is embracing Rani Mukerji's return as the fierce Shivani Shivaji Roy, particularly in urban centers and multiplexes. As of the end of its second weekend, the 10-day India net total for Mardaani 3 stands at an estimated ₹35.9 Cr. With no major competition in its genre, the film is expected to maintain a steady hold over the coming weekdays, trending toward a successful lifetime run. This second weekend performance highlights a significant growth in the franchise's box office pull compared to its predecessor. While Mardaani 2 collected ₹1.15 Cr on its eighth day (second Friday) and ₹1.95 Cr on its ninth day (second Saturday), Mardaani 3 has operated at a much higher level. By earning ₹1.85 Cr and ₹3.5 Cr on the corresponding days, the third installment has not only outpaced the previous film's daily totals but also recorded a much larger jump, nearly doubling the second Saturday figures of the 2019 sequel. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   With its current trajectory, all eyes are now on whether Mardaani 3 can eventually overtake the lifetime benchmarks set by its predecessor. Mardaani 2 ended its theatrical run as a certified Hit, finishing with a lifetime India net of ₹47.35 Cr, a domestic gross of ₹57 Cr, and a global total of ₹67 Cr (including ₹10 Cr from overseas). Given that the third installment has already reached an estimated ₹35.9 Cr India net within just 10 days—and is showing superior weekend growth compared to the previous film—it is well-positioned to challenge, and potentially surpass, the lifetime collections of the 2019 sequel.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Mumbai, February 9 – Filmmaker Rohit Shetty and his production banner Rohit Shetty Picturez have issued an official clarification addressing recent media reports that claimed that the director's upcoming film Golmaal 5 is inspired by or based on the cult classic Do Aur Do Paanch. In a strongly worded statement shared by the production house, the makers categorically dismissed these reports, calling them "factually incorrect, misleading and completely untrue." The clarification makes it clear that Golmaal 5 has no connection to the 1980 film and that the circulating claims are baseless. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) IMPORTANT... 'GOLMAAL 5' – ROHIT SHETTY CLARIFIES pic.twitter.com/MzU7oo2Vz6— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 9, 2026 The statement further urged media houses, digital platforms, and publications to refrain from publishing or circulating unverified information, stressing the importance of journalistic responsibility. It also warned that any news or updates related to Rohit Shetty or Golmaal 5 must be verified with the production house or their official PR agency, Universal Communications, prior to publication. Additionally, the team requested that incorrect reports currently in circulation be corrected or taken down at the earliest, warning that strict legal action would be taken against those who continue to spread false information regarding the much-awaited comedy entertainer. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, February 9 - Bollywood star Ranveer Singh's exit from the much-awaited action drama Don 3 has put the actor at the loggeheads with Excel Entertainment. The studio has reportedly suffered heavy losses after the film was put into backburner due to the actor's sudden exit from the project. According to the report by Variety India, Excel Entertainment has demanded 40 crore as compensation for the losses it suffered. Excel's claim that Ranveer's departure has resulted in significant financial losses, including sunk development costs and delays tied to scheduling, planning, and associated commitments. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Variety India reports that it also has access to a letter where the production house has let go of several departments, asking the HODs to start looking out for outside work. Ranveer Singh, however, is pushing back strongly, maintaining that he is not liable to pay any amount to Excel. Report says that Ranveer Singh has argued that he has previously stepped away from projects without such compensation demands being raised, and that the current situation should not be treated differently. The actor reportedly wasn't happy with the script, which led to his departure from the high-profile project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) "Ranveer kept asking for changes to be made and didn't like what the final draft read. Excel, on the other hand, claims that they went ahead with pre-production only after Singh gave his go-ahead", says that report, adding that a two-hour-long meeting between Singh and Excel concluded last Friday with no real outcome. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Tamil superstar Vijay Sethupathi has officially addressed the viral reports claiming his involvement in Nitesh Tiwari's high-budget mythological epic, Ramayana. For the past several days, industry rumors suggested that Sethupathi had been cast to play Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana. However, the actor has now cleared the air, stating that these reports are entirely baseless. In a clarification regarding the casting news, Vijay Sethupathi flatly denied his association with the big-budget project. The actor stated, No, I am not part of this project. I have no clue where this is coming from. This statement effectively shuts down the reports that had gained significant traction across social media platforms, which claimed the actor had already been signed for the trilogy. The project, produced by Namit Malhotra, remains one of the most talked-about films in Indian cinema due to its massive scale and visual effects. While several names from the South Indian film industries have been linked to various roles in the film, the makers have been extremely guarded about the official cast. Sethupathi's denial highlights the ongoing wave of unverified casting reports surrounding the Nitesh Tiwari directorial. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   In related industry news, reports regarding Rashmika Mandanna and Shahid Kapoor collaborating for director Amit Sharma's next film have also been clarified. While Shahid Kapoor is indeed in talks with the Badhaai Ho director, it has been confirmed that Rashmika Mandanna is not part of the film's cast in any capacity. Vijay Sethupathi: Recent Box Office Track Record (Solo/Lead Roles) 1. Viduthalai Part 1 (2023): Hit (Highly acclaimed performance that set a strong benchmark at the box office) 2. Thalaivan Thalaivii (2025/26): Hit (Successfully crossed the ₹85.78 Crore mark at the worldwide box office) 3. Maharaja (2024): Blockbuster (His highest-grossing solo lead film; breached the ₹100 Crore mark and collected ₹ 199.2 Cr worldwide)

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, February 9 - Shahid Kapoor is gearing up for one of the most intense releases of his career with O Romeo, a gritty action-thriller directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on February 13, 2026, perfectly timed for the Valentine's Day weekend, and expectations are running high among fans and trade alike. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film has been carrying good pre-release momentum, driven by Shahid Kapoor's striking transformation and the reunion with Bhardwaj after critically acclaimed collaborations such as Kaminey and Haider. With limited major releases competing during the period, O Romeo is expected to benefit from premium screens and strong showcasing across multiplexes in key metros. Adding to the excitement, the booking of the film is expected to commence on February 10, on Tuesday, just three days ahead of the release. Originally developed under the working title Arjun Ustara, the project reportedly took several years to materialise due to creative and logistical delays. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) O Romeo is one of Shahid Kapoor's most hyped movies in recent times, and it should be taking a good opening, especially given less competition during the Valentine's Day weekend. The film also features Triptii Dimri as the female lead, alongside an ensemble cast including Nana Patekar, Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Avinash Tiwary. With advance booking opening on February 10, all eyes will be on initial ticket sales to gauge whether O Romeo can convert its strong buzz into a solid opening weekend and emerge as Shahid Kapoor's next significant theatrical success. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, February 9 - Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar is having a theatrical run beyond historic. The spy action thriller has already completed two months at the box office and is available to stream online. Still the movie is bringing crowd to theatres in its 10th weekend, which is insane. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar collected approximately 35-40 lakh net in its 10th weekend, which is among the biggest ever for an Indian film. In the post-pandemic scenario, where films are made available on OTT after a specific time, and Dhurandhar performed like a front-loaded blockbuster, the 10th weekend numbers are extraordinary. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dhurandhar is easily the biggest Indian blockbuster in the post-pandemic era. After the 10th weekend (66 days), it has minted 838 crores net (1005+ crores gross) at the domestic box office, while the worldwide cume total is around 1305 crores gross. Domestically, it has sold nearly 3.70 crores tickets, which is the highest for a Bollywood title in Hindi since the Covid. Dhurandhar has already achieved more than what the makers imagined. The film's performance has been no less than a dream, and it will only take the hype for Dhurandhar: The Revenge, a notch higher. The second part of the mega blockbuster is scheduled to release on March 19 in multiple languages. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, February 9 - Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga had once toyed with the idea of creating a cinematic crossover between Kabir Singh and Animal, two of his most polarising and successful films. The director was intrigued by the possibility of placing Shahid Kapoor's Kabir Singh in the same dark, volatile universe as Ranbir Kapoor's Ranvijay Singh in Animal. In one of the earlier interviews, Sandeep Reddy Vanga confirmed that he was indeed planning Shahid Kapoor's cameo as Kabir Singh in Animal. The filmmaker had said that during the Delhi shoot of Animal, he got the idea to let's get Kabir Singh as one of the chief doctors, who will make the decision, being a very aggressive doctor. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Sandeep said that his team liked his idea of bringing Kabir into the world of Ranvijay Singh, but he dropped the idea after a couple of days, as he felt that he didn't want to go into cameo desperacy. During the recent interview while promoting O Romeo, Shahid Kapoor also confirmed, but he couldn't do the cameo due to date and other logistical issues. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Kabir Singh (2019) is the remake of Vanga's Telugu movie Arjun Reddy. The Hindi remake was a massive hit with nearly 400 crores worldwide. The film got criticism for the portrayal of the characters, but it was loved by audiences. The same happened with Animal (2023), which went on to become one of the biggest Indian blockbusters with nearly 1000 crores worldwide. It would have exciting to see two characters crossing paths with each other, but it didn't happen. Now, there are rumours that Ranbir Kapoor's Ranvijay Singh might make a cameo appearance in Vanga's upcoming film, Spirit, starring superstar Prabhas. It will be a blast if the rumours are true. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Salman Khan's highly anticipated war drama, Battle Of Galwan, has undergone a significant change in its release schedule. Originally slated to hit the silver screen on April 17, 2026, the film's release has now been pushed by four months. According to an exclusive report by Bollywood Hungama, the makers have locked August 14, 2026, as the new release date, aiming to capitalize on the massive patriotic fervor surrounding India's 80th Independence Day. The primary reason for this delay is the extended production timeline. The film is currently in its final leg of shooting, with a crucial one-week schedule commencing today, February 9, at the Golden Tobacco Factory in Mumbai. Following this, a few more days of patchwork remain, and the production is expected to officially wrap by the end of February. Director Apoorva Lakhia will then move into a rigorous post-production phase to integrate the newly shot sequences. Technical requirements and administrative protocols have also played a role in the rescheduling. As Battle Of Galwan is based on the real-life 2020 military standoff, the film must be screened for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to obtain the necessary clearances. Salman Khan has reportedly advised the team not to rush the process, emphasizing that a film of such national importance requires meticulous nurturing to ensure it is both cinematically compelling and respectful to the subject matter. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   This shift to the August window creates a notable box office clash.Battle Of Galwan is now slated to release alongside the Kartik Aaryan-starrer Naagzilla, which is also scheduled for August 14, 2026. While Salman Khan's film is a gritty, realistic portrayal of modern warfare, Naagzilla is a supernatural creature-comedy. The official announcement regarding the new date for the Apoorva Lakhia directorial is expected to be made by the production house shortly. Salman Khan: Recent Box Office Performance 1. Tiger 3 (2023): Hit (Earned ~₹464 Crore worldwide despite a complex release window) 2. Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023): Below Average (Managed a lifetime domestic collection of ~₹110 Crore(India net)) 3. Sikandar (2025): Underwhelmed (Earned ~₹184.6 Crore worldwide)

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, February 7 - Sunny Deol's war drama Border 2 started the third weekend on a decent note and is set to cross 300 crores net mark at the domestic box office on its third Saturday. The Anurag Singh-directed film is already the highest-grossing Indian title of the year. On its third Friday, Border 2 minted approximately 5.25 crores net, pushing total domestic net collection to 302 crores in 16 days. The blockbuster sequel became only the second movie of Sunny Deol after Gadar 2 and the first for Varun Dhawan to surpass 300 crores net mark domestically. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Border 2 opened to superb numbers before exploding over the Republic Day weekend and holding strong on Tuesday. However, a bigger-than-expected drop on weekdays and during the second weekend, even though the overall numbers remain decent, has slowed down the trajectory, which has ruled out its chances of crossing 500 crore or even 400 crore net lifetime run. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The third weekend of Border 2 is expected to be around 15 crores, with the lifetime domestic net now heading towards finishing somewhere between 325-350 crores. Worldwide, the movie has minted around 407 crores in 15 days, heading to finish in the range of 450 crores gross. As said, irrespective of where Border 2 finishes from now on, it is already a box office success, continuing to showcase Sunny Deol's immense pull among the masses when it comes to patriotic cinema. Earlier in 2023, the veteran actor created a sensation with Gadar 2, which went on to become one of the biggest Hindi grossers of all time. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, February 7 – Sunny Deol is going for the kill with his upcoming films. After flexing his box office muscle with Gadar 2 and Border 2, the Bollywood star is set to dominate the big screen once again. Just when his line-up was getting bigger, the actor has reportedly added one more high-profile project to his slate. According to a report by Pinkvilla, Sunny Deol is teaming up with Kill director Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt for a high-octane action thriller. The film is said to be mounted on a big scale and will be packed with massy moments and whistle-worthy sequences, creating strong buzz within the industry. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The narrative is described as rooted, raw, and real, and will reportedly present Sunny Deol in a completely new avatar. The actor is said to be excited about exploring this fresh world of action under Bhatt's direction. While details about the project are kept under wraps, the shoot is expected to begin in the second half of 2026. Meanwhile, the Jaat actor has several films in the pipeline. He will next be seen in the emotional drama Gabru, followed by Lahore 1947 and Ramayana Part 1 & 2. In addition, Sunny also has an OTT film titled Ikka lined up. The actor is reportedly in talks with multiple filmmakers for other projects as well, the details of which are yet to be revealed. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Development on the highly anticipated superhero sequel Krrish 4 has reportedly come to a standstill, with Bollywood Hungama confirming a significant budget disagreement between Hrithik Roshan and producer Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films. Despite the immense public demand for the franchise's return, the project has been placed on the back-burner as both parties remain unable to align on the film's financial scale. Consequently, the film will not go on floors in 2026 as originally envisioned, with the timeline now being pushed further into 2027. The central point of contention lies in the projected production costs for the superhero epic. Hrithik Roshan, who is set to make his directorial debut with this installment, envisions a massive scale with a budget close to Rs. 500 crores. In contrast, Aditya Chopra has reportedly advised an upper cap of Rs. 350 crores to ensure the film remains financially viable. Following multiple rounds of discussions, the creative and financial differences have led to a temporary halt in the collaboration under the YRF banner. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   In light of these budget restrictions, Hrithik Roshan is currently taking a practical approach by re-evaluating the script based on the feedback received. Sources indicate that the actor-director is also exploring potential collaborations with other major studios that might be willing to meet his vision's financial requirements. While the door remains open for a future reconciliation with Aditya Chopra, the current situation remains open-ended as Hrithik seeks the right balance between his ambitious narrative and the necessary funding. With Krrish 4 now delayed, Hrithik Roshan is expected to move forward with a different acting assignment in the interim. He has reportedly read several scripts and is close to green-lighting a new project, an announcement for which is expected in the near future. While fans will have to wait longer for the return of India's most celebrated superhero, the delay ensures that the eventual production of Krrish 4 will only proceed once the logistical and financial hurdles are fully resolved.