After a string of disappointing performances at the box office, Prabhas’ recent filmography has prompted much scrutiny. His last few ventures—Saaho (2019), Radhe Shyam (2022), and Adipurush (2023)—have fallen short of expectations. Consequently, industry insiders and fans alike have pinned their hopes on his latest project, Kalki 2898 AD.
Directed by Nag Ashwin, Kalki 2898 AD is a dystopian action thriller that has been a topic of discussion since its initial announcement. The film boasts an ensemble cast, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, Disha Patani, and Shobhana. Despite its star-studded lineup and the buzz surrounding its release, the film has faced its fair share of challenges, particularly regarding its IMAX format bookings.
While advance bookings for the 2D and 3D versions of Kalki 2898 AD in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam have been promising, the same cannot be said for the IMAX format in Hindi. Earlier this week, distributors requested a halt to premium IMAX bookings, although they were resumed a day later. However, the IMAX screenings faced significant issues on the release day, leading to the cancellation of some morning shows.
The crux of the problem was the lack of Key Delivery Message (KDM) codes, which are essential for playing the film in theaters. Several multiplexes did not receive these codes on time, resulting in the cancellation of morning shows and subsequent refunds to moviegoers. This issue was not confined to Hindi IMAX screenings alone; reports from Chennai indicated that the passkey for the Tamil versions had also not been issued in time. Luckily, the Telugu and Malayalam versions were screened seamlessly. By the afternoon, the KDM issues were resolved, allowing business to return to normal.
In other film industry news, director Rohit Dhawan is turning a new page after his ambitious remake of Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo (1982) with Tiger Shroff was shelved just weeks ago. Moving forward, Dhawan is teaming up with his producer from Dishoom (2016), Sajid Nadiadwala, for an action comedy. Reportedly, this upcoming film will draw inspiration from his father David Dhawan’s Deewana Mastana (1997). While the original starred Anil Kapoor, Govinda, and Juhi Chawla in a comedic narrative, Rohit’s version is said to be more action-oriented. The casting will commence once the screenplay is finalized, with the project set to go on floors next year.
. It remains to be seen whether Rohit will cast his actor-brother, Varun Dhawan, marking their second collaboration after Dishoom.
Alia Bhatt has recently wrapped up shooting for her next project, Jigra. The actress, who is also producing the film alongside Karan Johar, recently completed an all-night shoot to finish the thriller. Directed by Vasan Bala, the film stars Alia Bhatt alongside Vedang Raina and Aditya Nanda. According to a source, “Vasan had scheduled a late night shoot. They filmed a scene featuring Alia and Vedang from 2 am to 4 am, followed by another dramatic sequence.” The source further added that this night shoot marked the completion of the film, barring any additional patchwork. Slated to hit the cinemas on October 11, Jigra tells the story of a woman’s brave attempt to protect her brother.
Meanwhile, Aditi Rao Hydari recently faced a disappointing experience during her travels in Europe. The actress, who has been receiving positive feedback for her role in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, took to social media to share her ordeal at Heathrow Airport. Aditi was left waiting for her luggage for an extended period and voiced her frustration by stating, “Heathrow chaos x 10000.. Two hours at an empty luggage belt!” She also posted a conversation screenshot with the airport’s official social media, where the authorities claimed they had no control over luggage handling. Aditi expressed further indignation, noting that it had been 32 hours since her luggage went missing, and the airport authorities showed “zero accountability.” This incident comes at a significant time for Aditi, as she and her fiancé Siddharth, who recently attended Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal’s reception, are expected to tie the knot later this year.
In a lighter yet impactful note, Jacqueline Fernandez, who has been maintaining a low profile recently, is set to advocate for animal welfare. She will be discussing the prevention of animal cruelty at the 3rd Vegan India Conference, slated to be held at a suburban five-star hotel early next month. Known for her love for animals and vegan lifestyle, Jackie aims to promote the benefits of a plant-based diet, emphasizing its rich protein content and muscle-building advantages. She also launched the You Only Live Once (YOLO) Foundation to share stories of kindness and advocate for animal rights.
