Friday, May 2, 2025

Police complaint filed against Sonu Nigam over alleged insensitive remarks towards Kannada community

Singer Sonu Nigam is facing trouble after a police complaint was lodged against him by a pro-Kannada organization. The complaint, filed by the President of the Bengaluru city district unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), accuses Nigam of making comments that hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community. The complaint alleges that Nigam compared a fan’s request for a Kannada song to a terrorist attack, potentially inciting hatred between linguistic communities.

The incident took place last month during a musical concert at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Virgonagar, Bengaluru. A video from the event went viral, showing Nigam recounting how a fan had pressured him to sing in Kannada. In the clip, the singer appeared visibly upset by the interaction.

Sonu said, “Mujhe accha nahin laga ki wahan ek ladka jiski umar, jitni uske umar nahin hogi us se pehle toh main Kannada gaane ga raha hoon.”

“Yahi kaaran hai, Pahalgam mein jo hua hai na? Yahi kaaran hai jo kar rahe ho, jo kiya tha na abhi? Dekho toh kaun saamne khada hai,” he added.

Although the singer clarified during the concert that he holds deep respect for Kannadigas and the Kannada language, his remarks connecting the fan's behavior to the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack caused widespread outrage.

The complaint filed by KRV stated, “Sonu Nigam’s statements have caused severe distress to the Kannadiga community. By equating a simple cultural request to sing a Kannada song with a terrorist act, Shri Nigam has portrayed Kannadigas as intolerant or violent, which is contrary to their peace-loving and harmonious nature.”

The terror attack in Pahalgam, which took place on April 22, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, mostly tourists. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and intensified concerns over suspected cross-border terrorism.

The issue has since escalated, with demands for a formal apology from the singer. However, no legal action has been taken so far, apart from the filing of the complaint.

Also Read : Sonu Nigam shuts down student who rudely asks him to sing in Kannada at Bengaluru concert


Nirmal Kapoor, mother of Boney, Anil, and Sanjay Kapoor, passes away

Nirmal Kapoor, the beloved matriarch of the renowned Kapoor family, passed away today, May 2nd, 2025, around 5:45 pm at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. She was in her nineties and had been battling health issues for the past few months, having been in and out of the hospital on several occasions.

Nirmal Kapoor was the widow of the late producer Surinder Kapoor, and the mother of well-known producer Boney Kapoor and actors Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor. She was a pillar of strength for her family and a cherished figure in the entertainment industry. Her passing marks the end of an era for the Kapoor family, who have had a significant impact on Indian cinema for decades.

She is survived by her three sons, Boney, Anil, and Sanjay Kapoor along with her daughter, and their families. Nirmal Kapoor’s grandchildren include popular actors Arjun Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor, Mohit Marwah, Harshvardhan Kapoor, and Shanaya Kapoor, many of whom have followed in her family’s footsteps in the world of showbiz.

Sandeep Marwah, the founder of the Asian Academy of Film & Television (AAFT) in Noida, is her son-in-law. Her family, friends, and fans are mourning the loss of a loving mother and grandmother, whose presence will be deeply missed.

Nirmal Kapoor’s funeral arrangements are expected to be held privately by the family.


Karan Tacker wraps his supernatural thriller Bhay in London

After weeks of unraveling the unexplainable and plunging into the depths of the paranormal in front of the camera, Karan Tacker has officially wrapped the shoot of his highly anticipated series Bhay—and he did it in none other than London’s eerie, rain-slicked alleyways. A supernatural thriller, Bhay is rooted in real events, following the life and findings of the late Gaurav Tiwari, India’s most renowned paranormal investigator. The series, starring Karan Tacker in the lead role, also features an ensemble including Kalki Koechlin, Danish Sood, and Saloni Batra.

Tacker, who’s previously won hearts (and goosebumps) with his powerful performances in Khakee: The Bihar Chapter and Special Ops, is once again stepping into the shoes of a real-life personality—only this time, the world he’s navigating isn’t defined by crime or espionage, but by energy shifts and the questions science can’t always answer.

Speaking about the experience, Karan says, “Absolutely delighted to wrap the schedule of another project. This one is extremely special, having worked on it for the last 1 1/2 years and just shooting the last day in a city that I absolutely love, which is London. I couldn’t have asked for more now, I just can’t wait for the audience to watch this and receive this with all the love as much as what we put in.”

With the London schedule now wrapped, the excitement around Bhay is only intensifying. The atmospheric visuals and Tacker’s nuanced performance as a man who hunted answers in the unseen all promise a show that will grip the audience.

Also Read: Karan Tacker back in action: Jumps straight into his next project ahead of Bhay release!


Thursday, May 1, 2025

Lyca Group and Mahaveer Jain Films to co-produce 9 Indian films for global release, inspired by PM Modi's WAVES 2025 vision

UK & Europe-based Lyca Group’s production arm Lyca Productions which produced big budget films like Robot 2.0 with Rajnikanth, Ponniyin Selvan I & II with Mani Ratnam, and Mahaveer Jain Films, inspired by Hon PM’s vision for elevating Indian storytelling on the global entertainment stage, have announced a strategic partnership to produce 9 such impactful films over the next 3 years.

This collaboration aligns with Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's WAVES initiative to establish India as a worldwide content creation hub. Lyca Group Chairman Dr. Allirajah Subaskaran along with Mahaveer Jain met & expressed the commitment to Information & Broadcasting Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnav, Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Phadnavis and Minister of State Information & Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan at the WAVES Summit.

SubasKaran & Mahaveer Jain jointly stated that India is truly fortunate to have such a visionary, dynamic and sensitive PM. It’s indeed the best time to take India’s rich culture, philosophies & wisdom to the world with cinematic brilliance and spread more love, compassion and oneness with powerful content.

These films are a small way to express our gratitude to Hon. PM Modi who is working tirelessly & brilliantly to make India & World a better place for generations to come. The Lyca Group, a diversified multinational corporation operating across telecommunications, healthcare, travel, entertainment, and other sectors in 23 countries.

Mahaveer Jain Films, known for Uunchai with Rajshri productions has upcoming projects including NaagZilla with Karan Johar starring Kartik Aaryan, an international thriller with Siddharth Anand featuring Vikrant Massey as Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a rooted friendship film with Imtiaz Ali and a biopic on Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand.

Also Read: BREAKING: Mahaveer Jain, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba join hands with Imtiaz Ali to produce a friendship-based film set in the heartland of India


Diljit Dosanjh and Jackson Wang unite for BUCK - a groundbreaking cross-cultural anthem

In a first-of-its-kind musical collaboration, Punjabi pop icon Diljit Dosanjh and global K-pop sensation Jackson Wang are all set to release their new single titled ‘BUCK’ on May 9. The track brings together two of Asia’s biggest music stars and marks a significant moment in the global music scene, celebrating a blend of cultures, styles, and fanbases.

Described as a genre-defying anthem, ‘BUCK’ promises to combine the earthy energy of Punjabi music with Jackson’s signature mix of K-pop, R&B, and hip-hop. Known for their innovative artistry and massive international followings, both artistes are expected to deliver a song that will set new benchmarks in cross-cultural collaborations.

The collaboration came to life after both Diljit and Jackson expressed interest in working with each other. Their mutual admiration sparked the idea, which soon developed into a full-fledged project. This musical fusion is seen as a powerful step forward in connecting diverse Asian audiences through shared artistic vision.

Jackson Wang’s involvement in the project has been supported by Kamal Shah, a Singapore-based close associate of the K-pop star, along with Bunty Bahl, a well-known name in the Indian music and Bollywood circuit. Together, they have played a key role in facilitating this high-profile collaboration.

Further adding to the buzz, Jackson Wang is expected to be in Mumbai on May 10 to promote ‘BUCK’. This marks his second visit to India, and excitement among fans is already at an all-time high. His previous visit left a lasting impression and won him a loyal Indian fanbase.

Diljit Dosanjh, who continues to rise as a global ambassador for Punjabi music, brings his trademark style and charisma to the track. Known for seamlessly balancing his music and film career, Diljit’s partnership with Jackson underscores his growing influence on the international stage.

‘BUCK’ is expected to be more than just a song and it aims to showcase artistic unity and the limitless possibilities that emerge when cultures come together. As the countdown to May 9 begins, fans across the globe are eagerly waiting to witness the musical fireworks this duo is ready to unleash.

Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh teaches Bhangra to “Living legend” Will Smith in viral video! Watch


WAVES 2025: Shah Rukh Khan makes a STRONG statement; backs China-like theatre BOOM in India: “Going to cinemas is becoming very EXPENSIVE…we need more theatres, CHEAPER theatres”

Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone spoke at a session named ‘The Journey: From Outsider to Ruler’ on day 1 of WAVES Summit 2025. Moderated by Karan Johar, the session created waves (pun intended) thanks to SRK’s replies. He also made an important statement towards the end of the session.

Shah Rukh Khan said, “Its outstanding that the initiative for WAVES has come from the honourable Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) himself. Or else, film industry members keep crying, ‘Humko industry status kab doge’! It’s a time when filmmaking has become more and more difficult and it has become challenging to get the audience to cinemas due to so many other platforms. With WAVES, 2-3 things should happen. Firstly, the shooting process in India should become easier not only for us Indian filmmakers but those who want to come to shoot here from abroad. This is because India has so much to offer – it is so culturally rich and so beautiful. We also go abroad and shoot but can we invite atithis (guests) to come here and give them all the infrastructure.”

He added, “Secondly, the festivals have markets where films are sold all over the world. That should happen with WAVES.”

Shah Rukh Khan further said, “Lastly, the call of the day is a lot more theatres, simpler theatres and cheaper theatres in smaller towns and cities so that we can showcase Indian films, made in various languages, to a larger majority of Indians at cheaper rates. Otherwise, it is becoming very expensive and also, our cinemas are mostly concentrated in big towns. We keep talking about the China model with regard to the number of theatres; that can happen here as well. (Once we have more cinemas), it’ll increase footfall. Thus, we’ll be able to give entertainment at a cheaper price and in every corner of the country.”

Also Read: WAVES 2025 inaugural ceremony: Shah Rukh Khan warmly welcomes Narendra Modi; Prime Minister applauds RRR’s win at the Oscars


WAVES 2025: Shah Rukh Khan BREAKS silence on insider vs outsider debate: “It doesn’t matter where you come from. If you start wallowing in self-pity, you’ll never be able to make a space for yourself…”

Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone spoke at a session named ‘The Journey: From Outsider to Ruler’ on day 1 of WAVES Summit 2025. Moderated by Karan Johar, the session created waves (pun intended) thanks to SRK’s replies. With his very first answer, he made a strong statement on the insider vs outsider debate.

Shah Rukh Khan began by saying, “I have a problem with the distinction between insider and outsider. It is not important where you come from. What is important is how you want to make a place in the field of your choice. Most people start assuming, ‘I am from the outside world. Only the privileged will get a chance. I don’t have such a distinguished background. Hence, I’ll not get (the chance)’. If you start wallowing in self-pity and have such thoughts, you’ll never give your full force of energy to make a space for yourself in the world that you want to be a part of.”

He continued, “Also, let me tell you that the world that you want to be in, doesn’t give a damn about you! You are very insignificant. Unko koi fark padta hai ki Deepika kahan se aayi, Karan kahan se aayaaur Shah Rukh kahan se aaya. They don’t care if you are from a filmy or non-filmy background or whether you are rich or poor. It's your choice. You have to find a space in that sphere by pushing it and finding out how the world works. Then, you give your best to it.”

SRK further said, “When I came here, I never thought that I couldn’t be a part of the world because I am an outsider. I believed, ‘Yehi meri duniya hai’. To be honest, from day 1, everybody in the film industry embraced me with open arms, like a new son landing at Marine Drive! In 24 hours, I lost one whole family and I gained a new family.”

Shah Rukh Khan ended his answer by saying, “Ambition, hunger, pain, problems etc. are just lofty words. You need to be determined. I had the ability and a little bit of skill as well. Itna talented nahin hoon main! But I did a lot of hard work. That’s all you need to make a place as an outsider.”

Also Read: WAVES 2025 inaugural ceremony: Shah Rukh Khan warmly welcomes Narendra Modi; Prime Minister applauds RRR’s win at the Oscars


A.R. Rahman becomes the new face of Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea; Oscar-Winning composer launches ‘Awaken Your Masterpiece’ campaign

Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman has been announced as the new brand ambassador of Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea, a brand owned by...