Madhur Bhandarkar set to explore celebrity wives in Wives of Bollywood: “Aim to bring these untold stories”

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkarbis now turning his lens on Bollywood itself. However, this time the spotlight is on the wives of the stars rather than the stars themselves. With a portfolio that includes critically acclaimed works like Chandani Bar, Page 3, Fashion, and Heroine, Bhandarkar's upcoming project, Wives of Bollywood, aims to reveal the lesser-known aspects of the glamorous lives of Bollywood's star wives, complete with scandal, gossip, power struggles, and opulence.

Wives of Bollywood is anticipated to deliver a bold commentary on the social dynamics within the entertainment industry. “There is a lot of speculation surrounding the lives of Bollywood star wives. Our goal is to bring these untold stories, inspired by real incidents, to the big screen,” said Bhandarkar.

Producer Pranav Jain expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Madhur sir again after the success of *India Lockdown*. He has a strong reputation for creating authentic films, and this topic is sure to be explosive, given the intrigue surrounding celebrity wives both at home and in social settings.”

Produced by Bhandarkar Entertainment and P J Motion Pictures, Wives of Bollywood is expected to begin filming early next year. ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Madhur Bhandarkar and Zee Studios join hands for a women-centric film

Shah Rukh Khan to play assassin in King: Report

The much-talked about ambitious project of Sujoy Ghosh titled King, starring Shah Rukh Khan and marking the first theatrical appearance of the father-daughter duo along with Suhana Khan playing a key role. With every update on the film garnering attention from fans, the latest one will definitely have them excited. Giving a sneak peek of SRK’s character, reports have suggested that the actor will play the sleek role of an assassin.

Sujoy Ghosh, who is known for mysterious thrillers, is quite excited about directing this larger-than-life drama which not only promises ample of suspense and mystery elements but will also feature extensive high-octane action. Meanwhile, the new revelation about Shah Rukh Khan playing an assassin was made by writer Rahul Raut on Twitter aka X. While we hear that the film will see the actor perform action like his characters in Jawan and Pathaan, on the other hand, fans of the megastar will be thrilled to see the actor reprise ‘the baddie’ like he did in the 90s with films like Baazigar, Anjaam, and Darr.

This news about the actor’s return to a grey shaded role has not only sparked excitement but it also made an older comment that the superstar made during the Locarno Film Festival in August 2024 viral. During the event Locarno Meets which was also attended by Khan, SRK had addressed the subject of playing a baddie wherein he had said, “I think I have a new way of playing a bad guy”. The comment seems to have gained more momentum after the recent buzz about him returning to such kind of roles with King.

Coming to King, the film is expected to feature an ensemble cast wherein Abhishek Bachchan will play the real antagonist. Along with Suhana Khan, it will also star Munjya fame actor Abhay Verma in a key role.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan reached out to Starbucks for Red Chillies office outlet, reveals CEO: “That’s his place, he is the landlord”

Radhika Apte flaunts her baby bump as she drops pics from Sister Midnight premiere in UK

Radhika Apte, who has not been quite active on social media for a while, surprised her fans with her latest pictures from the premiere night of Sister Midnight in United Kingdom. While her beloved admirers are excited to see the actress take on another intriguing character in this gender bending comedy, they were merely left surprised when the actress made an appearance with a massive baby bump. While the actress too dropped pictures from the special evening, she refrained from talking about her motherhood journey.

Radhika Apte is currently in the UK as her film Sister Midnight premiered in the country on October 16. On Wednesday, the actress took to her official Instagram handle where she shared photos with the entire team as she looked excited to welcome her film and along with the pictures, she also shared a series of pictures from her red carpet appearances wherein she is seen wearing an all-black bodyfit off shoulder gown and showed off her baby bump. She wrote, “SISTER MIDNIGHT UK Premier #lff2024” and tagged the entire team of the film but did not mention about the pregnancy.

 

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  A post shared by Radhika (@radhikaofficial)

Meanwhile, her excited fans have been sharing congratulatory messages on the post. Vijay Varma, who too has shared screen space with the actress, gave a shout out to the actress by commenting, “Apteeeeeee” along with hug emojis. Producer Guneet Monga too dropped hearts and shared her best wishes to Radhika. Apart from that, the actress also shared glimpses of her promotions for the film on the platform.

 

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  A post shared by Radhika (@radhikaofficial)

For the unversed, Radhika Apte is married to international musician Benedict Taylor in 2013 and the couple have been shuttling between countries ever since they tied the knot nine years ago.

Speaking about her film Sister Midnight, the film, directed by Karan Kandhari, revolves around a frustrated and misanthropic newlywed couple wherein the meek husband discovers certain feral impulses of his wife that often land them in unlikely situations. Apart from this, Radhika is also expected to collaborate with YRF for a revenge thriller web-series Akka co-starring Keerthy Suresh.

Also Read: Radhika Apte at Paris Haute Couture Week becomes a Showstopper for Vaishali S

12 Years of Varun Dhawan: Badlapur to get special screening on October 19

To celebrate the 12th anniversary of his acting career, Varun Dhawan is being honoured with a special fan screening of his critically acclaimed film, Badlapur. PVR Cinemas is hosting this exclusive event, allowing fans to relive the intense and gripping narrative that has made the film a cult classic.

Released in 2015, Badlapur is a dark thriller that showcases Varun in a transformative role, earning him widespread acclaim for his portrayal of a vengeful man seeking retribution. Badlapur is a 2015 Indian neo-noir action thriller film that tells the story of Raghu, a man who seeks revenge against the two bank robbers who killed his wife and son.

The film was directed by Sriram Raghavan and starred Varun Dhawan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi, Yami Gautam, Vinay Pathak, Kumud Mishra, Divya Dutta, and Radhika Apte.

The special screening will take place at select PVR Cinemas on October 19, providing fans with a unique opportunity to experience the film on the big screen once again. ALSO READ: Varun Dhawan to begin Goa shoot for David Dhawans rom-com in November: Report

TIPS Music sees revenue surge to Rs. 80.6 crores and PAT rise to Rs. 48.2 crores in Q2 FY25 Results – Read Detailed Report

TIPS Music Ltd, formerly known as Tips Industries Ltd., has announced financial results for the quarter ending September 30, 2024. The Indian music label reported robust growth across several key metrics, showcasing its strong performance in a competitive industry. For the second quarter of FY25, TIPS Music recorded revenue from operations of Rs. 80.6 crores, reflecting a remarkable year-on-year growth of 32% compared to Rs. 60.9 crores in the same quarter last year. This upward trend continues from the previous quarter, which saw revenues of Rs. 73.9 crores, marking a quarter-on-quarter increase of 9%. The total revenue for the first half of FY25 stood at Rs. 154.5 crores, up 36% from Rs. 113.5 crores in H1 FY24.

The company’s operating EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) reached Rs. 59.5 crores, indicating a 19% increase from Rs. 49.8 crores in Q2 FY24 and a 9% rise from Rs. 54.4 crores in Q1 FY25. The operating EBITDA margin for the quarter was reported at 73.8%, slightly down from 81.9% year-on-year but consistent with the margin of 73.6% from the previous quarter.

In terms of profitability, TIPS Music recorded a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 48.2 crores, which is a 21% increase from Rs. 39.7 crores in Q2 FY24 and an 11% rise from Rs. 43.6 crores in Q1 FY25. The PAT margin for the quarter stood at 59.7%, down from 65.2% a year earlier but relatively stable compared to 58.9% in the previous quarter.

In Q2 FY25, TIPS Music launched a total of 125 new songs, including 39 new film songs and 86 non-film songs. The content cost for the quarter rose significantly to ₹13.8 crores, compared to Rs. 4.7 crore in Q2 FY24, reflecting an increase of 194%.

TIPS Music's YouTube channel has seen impressive subscriber growth, reaching 108 million—a 21% increase compared to the previous year. The company declared an interim dividend of ₹2 per share for Q2 FY25, totalling Rs. 25.56 crores. Cumulatively, TIPS Music's total payout to shareholders, including dividends and buybacks, has reached Rs. 97.74 crores in FY25 to date.

Kumar Taurani, Chairman & Managing Director, said, “I am pleased to share that the company has announced a 2nd interim dividend for the year of Rs. 2 per share, in addition to interim dividend distributed and buyback conducted in Q1FY25. Our revenue for the quarter stood at Rs. 80.6 Cr up by 32% YOY with a PAT of Rs. 48.2 Cr increasing by 21% YOY. Our relentless focus is on acquiring high-quality music content.”

Girish Taurani, Executive Director, said, “In Q2 FY2025 we successfully launched 125 new songs, of which, 39 were new Film songs and 86 Non-Film songs, resulting in a diverse range of offerings that cater to a wide audience. This quarter, we released two musical short films, ‘Tedi Medi’ and ‘Beinteha’, both of which have received significant appreciation from the audience. A notable release for this quarter is the song ‘Yaad Reh Jaati Hai’ from the film The Buckingham Murders, sung by the renowned B Praak, along with another song released this quarter ‘Dua Kijiye’. Both tracks have gained popularity and continue to grow with our audiences.”

Hari Nair – Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our YouTube channels cumulative subscriber base has now reached 108 million, reflecting our growing influence and engagement. The market share on audio digital platforms like Spotify, Saavn etc is increasing steadily. Additionally, the new division of “Brands & Partnership” has started clocking revenues; Motorola used our track ‘Rangeela Re’, to launch its new set of colourful handsets.”

Rakul Preet Singh suffers back injury during 80 kg deadlift, on bed rest: Report

Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh recently suffered a serious back injury during a workout session. The incident has left the actress on bed rest as she recuperates from the strain.

Rakul Preet Singh Sustains Injury During 80 Kg Deadlift Without Belt According to a report by IANS, Rakul’s injury occurred while performing an 80 kg deadlift without a supportive belt, leading to a severe muscle spasm. "Rakul has been on bed rest for the last few days, and the situation has been quite scary. It all started on the morning of October 5, when Rakul was doing her workout. She did an 80 kg deadlift without wearing a belt, which resulted in a spasm on her back," the source revealed. Despite the initial injury, Rakul continued her exercise routine, which worsened her condition. Rakul Preet Singh Continues Work Despite Injury In spite of the pain, the actress chose to keep shooting for her upcoming film De De Pyaar De 2, taking muscle relaxants to fulfil her professional commitments. For two consecutive days, Rakul pushed through the pain but eventually sought medical attention after three days of discomfort. "She continued to shoot for De De Pyaar De 2, taking a muscle relaxant in order to fulfil her commitment," the source shared. After consulting with physiotherapists, the pain would subside temporarily but return within a few hours.

The situation took a turn for the worse on October 10, just an hour before her birthday celebration. "On October 10, an hour before her birthday party, she went through the worst situation. Her L4, L5, and S1 nerves got jammed. Soon after, her blood pressure dropped, and she broke into a sweat. She had to be put on bed rest immediately," the source added.

Rakul is currently recovering from the injury, but her recovery process is gradual. “It's been five days now, and while she is recovering, it is slow and steady. Rakul is someone who always pushes her body, and instead of resting, she continues shooting, which results in this drastic situation. But this is a lesson learned, and hopefully, she will recover soon," the source concluded.

Also Read: Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest 2024: Rakul Preet Singh reflects on portraying Sridevi in Kathanayakudu: “It was an honor to play a legend”

Jaya Bachchan to star in Vikas Bahl’s comedy Darwaza

The unrivalled Jaya Bhaduri/Bachchan is all set to face the camera once again. The actress was last seen in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani where she played a negative character for the first time. She will be joined by Siddhant Chaturvedi and Wamiqa Gabbi in supporting roles.

Now it is another first for the trendsetting Bachchan: Jaya will attempt for the first time in Vikas Bahl’s Darwaza. The film that starts shooting at the end of the month features an ensemble cast.

“But Jaya Bachchan leads the cast in Darwaza. It is a wacky comedy revolving around her character. There are other interesting characters. But she leads the plot,” informs a source close to the project.

Apparently, Jaya was not sure if she could pull off the comic strain. But the director was confident. Interestingly Vikas has directed Amitabh Bachchan in two recent films Goodbye and Ganpath.

Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor and Rani Mukerji pose together; Jaya Bachchan and Kajol hug at Durga Puja celebrations in Mumbai, watch videos