Thursday, April 03
The year 2025 starts poorly for Bollywood with underwhelming box office performances from Game Changer, Fateh, Emergency, and Azaad. While Kangana Ranaut's Emergency witnessed a rise in collections, debutant Rasha Thadani and Amaan Devgan’s Azaad saw a decline. Mixed reviews and weak word of mouth impacted Azaad's performance. Amaan's next project, Jhalak, is a horror-comedy directed by Umang Vyas.
Actor Saif Ali Khan was hospitalized with 6 stab wounds after confronting an intruder in his Bandra home. The suspect, Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, allegedly from Bangladesh, was arrested. He entered India illegally and used a fake identity. Initial investigations suggest the motive was robbery, and he was unaware it was Khan's residence.
Varun Tej is set for a grand comeback with the Indo-Korean horror comedy 'VT 15'. The project was announced on his 35th birthday. Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi with music by Thaman S, filming begins soon. Varun is training in Taekwondo for action sequences. The film blends Indian and Korean elements for a fresh horror-comedy.
Despite Ram Charan and Shankar’s Game Changer, it is Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Daaku Maharaj making waves at the box office with a strong opening. The film, amidst mixed reviews, grossed Rs 74.60 crore in its first week. However, facing stiff competition from Pushpa 2 and Sankranthiki Vasthunam, it’s uncertain if it will break even.
Telugu cinema is witnessing success with consecutive releases. Venkatesh's family entertainer directed by Anil Ravipudi has earned over Rs 93 crore in five days, enjoying consistent collections. Released during Pongal, it cashed in on the festival with an impressive opening. The film also performed well in North America, achieving profitability for distributors.
Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha has voiced his concern and support for Saif Ali Khan following a knife attack that left him severely injured. Sinha shared an AI-generated image of Saif in a hospital, recovering and smiling with his wife Kareena Kapoor beside him. He emphasized the family's strength and urged the public to avoid blame games, praising Maharashtra’s leadership for their efforts. Sinha also thanked medical staff as Saif, after surgery to remove a blade, is now stable and out of danger.
Game Changer, starring Ram Charan and directed by Shankar, has failed to connect with mass audiences, resulting in significant losses for distributors, particularly in North America. Despite crossing the US $1.5 million mark in its initial days, the film struggles to breakeven as its current trends suggest a lifetime collection capped at US $2.
Mumbai Police arrested Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad in connection with the knife attack on actor Saif Ali Khan. Shahzad, a Bangladeshi national, had illegally entered India and changed his name to Vijay Das. He worked for a housekeeping agency in Mumbai. Saif was stabbed six times during an attempted robbery at his Bandra residence, leading to serious injuries.
‘Pushap 2’ achieved massive success at the box office since its release on December 5, 205, earning a total of ₹1226.75 Cr in 45 days. Despite new releases like ‘Emergency,’ ‘Game Changer,’ and ‘Azaad’ taking the lead, the Allu Arjun starrer continued to draw audiences, demonstrating its strong impact and consistent performance.
Ben Affleck was seen spending time with his son Samuel and their new German Shepherd after evacuating wildfires in Los Angeles. The duo, accompanied by dog trainers, was spotted in his Brentwood neighborhood. FBI and Sheriff's Department officers investigated a drone-related incident in the area last week.
