Hrithik Roshan is once again the talk of tinsel town, as rumors swirl about the superstar’s next movie projects. The actor, who recently portrayed an Indian Air Force pilot in the film Fighter earlier this year, is currently knee-deep in working on War 2. This upcoming thriller, part of the YRF spy universe, is directed by Ayan Mukerji and boasts a stellar cast including Junior NTR and Kiara Advani. Now, whispers in the industry suggest that Hrithik, also known affectionately as Duggu, is in early talks with director Kabir Khan for an entirely new thriller set in a post-apocalyptic world.
While the project is still in its nascent stages, sources reveal that Hrithik and Kabir have met multiple times over the last few months. In a bid to understand his directors better before diving into any project, Hrithik is known to spend ample time getting familiar with them. It seems the Chandu Champion director and Hrithik have struck a chord, and there are high hopes that they will collaborate soon on this intriguing project.
In addition to his potential film with Kabir Khan, Hrithik also has filmmaker-father Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish 4 lined up. The superhero franchise has been a long-time favorite and fans are eagerly waiting for its next installment.
Meanwhile, the veteran actor Anil Kapoor has recently discussed the reasons behind his absence from the sequels of two major hits. Allegedly, he opted out of Welcome to the Jungle due to financial disagreements, whereas No Entry Mein Entry, a sequel to a popular comedy, now features a younger cast with Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, and Diljit Dosanjh. Kapoor, while not naming the movies directly, commented, “Recently, I was replaced in two films. Now, what is the reason I don’t know. But these things happen. We are just doing our jobs with sincerity and honesty. That’s what life is.” Currently, Anil Kapoor is set to replace Salman Khan as the host of Bigg Boss OTT 3.
On the other hand, Kalki 2898 AD, a film starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, has successfully navigated the censor process. The Hyderabad office of the Central Board of Film Certification cleared the Telugu version of the Nag Ashwin directorial venture with a U/A rating. No significant cuts were mandated by the Examining Committee (EC), though they did recommend a disclaimer at the thriller’s start, clarifying the fictional nature of the story and the cinematic liberties taken. Interestingly, the film also requested a change in text from ‘6000 years after Mahabharata’ to ’2898 AD’, and the muting of ‘Veedi’ when referring to Kaal Bhairava. Notably, Kalki 2898 AD is Prabhas’ longest film, running for three hours and one minute, outstripping his previous movie Adipurush which ran for two hours and 59 minutes.
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In another exciting development, actor Pavail Gulati has commenced preparations for his next role while continuing work on his current film, Deva. “I’m prepping to play a boxer in a film that goes on floors at the end of this year. So, I need plenty of time to prepare,” he revealed. Highlighting the relative scarcity of boxing-centered action films in India, Pavail added, “We have seen MMA [mixed martial arts], Muay Thai become popular. Plus, as a sport too, boxing is gaining a lot of fandom here. This film is a story of an individual navigating this sport, and his life. I’m excited, it’s a triumphant story. Hence, I am making the most of my time to being fit, training, and polishing my sparring skills to be authentic when we begin shooting.”
After nearly 17 years, Bollywood could see a notable reunion as Sanjay Dutt and Sanjay Gupta are on the verge of teaming up again. The duo’s collaboration initially began with Gupta’s directorial debut, Aatish (1994), and spanned nine successful films. Despite past differences, the actor and filmmaker have reconciled and are now planning a new project together. The buzz surrounding this reunion first emerged two years ago, and it appears that things are finally coming to fruition. Gupta has shared that the script is locked, and they are currently ironing out the logistics for their upcoming venture.
Veteran filmmaker Ketan Mehta shared insightful observations on the future of animation during a panel discussion at the 18th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). He pointed out, “When you’re creating specifically for the domestic market, it has very little resonance outside the country and that is the vicious circle we are caught in.” He further elaborated, “We haven’t cultivated a global mindset and we haven’t triggered a global ambition. Creatively, there is nothing wrong with us. We are the most creative civilization the world has seen.”
Lastly, Ajay Devgn and R Madhavan are set to reunite post the success of Shaitaan earlier this year in the sequel to De De Pyaar De (DDPD2). Madhavan, who played the antagonist in Shaitaan, will take on a humorous role as the father of leading lady Rakul Preet Singh. The sequel picks up from where the 2019 hit left off, focusing on how her family reacts to the older businessman’s relationship with his much younger girlfriend. The dynamics between Ajay and Maddy’s characters promise to be packed with humor, aiming to make the narrative a laugh riot with its well-crafted one-liners.
