First Ray Films has unveiled the teaser poster of the much-anticipated action thriller Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business, marking a special moment for the franchise and its creator. The announcement coincides with the birthday of actor-director Anshuman Jha, making the reveal both a celebration of the film and a personal milestone for the artist.

The film centres around the endangered Celebes crested macaque, a rare primate native to Indonesia, also known as the North Sulawasi ‘Yaki Monkey’.

Along with the teaser poster drop, the makers have officially announced the film’s worldwide theatrical release for Diwali 2026, positioning the sequel as one of the festival season’s big action spectacles. The film will be having a high profile film festival run between June-November prior to its Worldwide release.

Directed by Anshuman Jha, Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business continues the story of Kolkata based Arjun Bakshi — the animal-loving vigilante who, once again, will go the distance to protect voiceless creatures from cruelty and exploitation - this time in the forests of West Java, Indonesia. Expanding the universe beyond India, the sequel ventures into Southeast Asia, tackling the global issue of wildlife trafficking.

Blending intense hand-to-hand combat with a strong environmental message, the film builds on the spirit of the first installment, which introduced audiences to a unique action hero driven not by revenge, but by compassion for animals.

Alongside Anshuman, the film also stars Sarah Jane Dias, Adil Hussain, Vikram Kochhar and also features international martial arts star Sunny Pang, last seen with Tom Hardy in Havoc, alongside a diverse global cast including Dan-Chupong of Ong-Bak, reinforcing the franchise’s ambition to create an action story that transcends borders while spotlighting urgent ecological issues.

Speaking about the announcement, Jha shared, “This film is deeply personal to me. Lord Hanuman has inspired me since I was a kid - he represents strength, loyalty, courage and service to me. This film is not just a sequel to Lakadbaggha 1. It is a small cinematic prayer to Lord Hanuman, the art of never giving up and a humble tribute to the extraordinary animals who share this planet with us. And the project reflects his belief that humanity’s relationship with nature must be rooted in respect and responsibility. I truly believe and live by the mantra that being ordinary is a superpower.”

Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 worldwide theatrical release.

Also Read: Anshuman Jha talks about the importance of right casting and why he turned down Vikrant Massey’s role in Half Girlfriend

A recent news report claims that the Kapoor family obtained the necessary permission to copyright the actor’s name posthumously. The decision, according to the report, ensures that any individual or organisation seeking to use Rishi Kapoor’s name in commercial, professional, or public contexts must first obtain approval from the family.

However, when this writer contacted the late actor Rishi Kapoor’s wife Neetu Kapoor, she admitted she had no knowledge of any such move by the family. Mrs Kapoor replied, “Hi Subhash, I am not aware of this.” When I asked if this was false news, she replied. “I think so. I am not sure.”

Close family friend and singer Nitin Mukesh said, “I don’t think this can be true. I mean Chintu, who was like my brother, didn’t have a stylized personality, unlike Raj uncle (Rishi Kapoor’s father Raj Kapoor) who was known for his mannerisms that were universally copied. Chintu was….how do I put it…inimitable.”

Of late, there have been some actors known for their patented acting style like Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Shatrughan Sinha, who have gone to court to have their personalities copyrighted. But Rishi Kapoor seems a case of barking up the wrong tree.

Also Read: Farah Khan recalls underworld threat during Kuch Kuch Hota Hai premiere: “Karan Johar was very stressed”

The Haryana State Commission for Women has directed the Haryana police to seize Badshah’s passport, so he cannot leave the country and that he be arrested immediately.

These harsh steps have been evoked after Badshah’s song ‘Tateeree’ provoked strong reactions. On March 6, Badshah skipped the hearing at the Women’s Commission.

Calling for his immediate arrest, the Commission has accused Badshah of denigrating the women and girls of Haryana. It would be hard for rappers-singers like Badshah and Yo Yo Honey Singh to get away with problematic lyrics in the future.

Also Read: Sona Mohapatra slams Badshah over ‘Tateeree’ controversy: “This isn’t creativity. It’s the laziest trope in pop culture”

The much-awaited Dhurandhar: The Revenge is all set to release in less than a week, on March 19. To capitalize on the excitement, Jio Studios decided to organize paid previews on Wednesday, March 18, from 5:00 pm onwards. The response to the ticket sales is historic. Despite the exorbitant ticket rates, shows are filling fast across the country. Meanwhile, from Thursday, March 12, Jio decided to increase the shows of Dhurandhar’s first part and also re-release it in several cinemas where it was discontinued.

It’s interesting to note that Dhurandhar’s Part 1, which was released on December 5, 2025, continued to play in several cinemas throughout this period. In fact, today marks the film’s 99th day in theatres, and tomorrow, March 14, it will complete a glorious 100-day run. There was a time when blockbuster films routinely achieved such milestones, but over the years, such feats have become increasingly rare. Hence, Dhurandhar stands out as a rare post-Covid film to enjoy such a long theatrical run.

Almost 1 ½ months ago, it dropped on Netflix. Usually, viewership in cinemas drops once a film is available online. But Dhurandhar’s first part continued to find steady audiences in certain theatres, due to which it was never discontinued. And now it has been re-released in several theatres, where it had ended its run, giving viewers a chance to recap before watching the sequel next week. Interestingly, the re-release has also happened worldwide. As per the official communication on March 12, Dhurandhar’s first part is currently running in 1000+ screens worldwide with more than 1250 shows.

Dhurandhar’s first part will continue to run in cinemas until the afternoon of March 18, after which it will be replaced by Dhurandhar: The Revenge. This marks the first time ever that the first part of a film has remained in cinemas until the release of its sequel. In short, the first installment has created history in more ways than one, and it now remains to be seen how many records Dhurandhar: The Revenge will go on to break.

Also Read: Dhurandhar: The Revenge trailer gets a luxe twist – Ranveer Singh sports Rs. 25 lakhs worth Rolex Daytona as Hamza

In a move aimed at making the movie-going experience more inclusive, the Central Board of Film Certification has made subtitles mandatory for films across languages. The CBFC’s directive will come into effect from March 15, 2026. Henceforth, all Indian films will be required to include subtitles, along with audio descriptions wherever applicable.

The move is intended to improve accessibility for audiences who are hearing or visually impaired, allowing them to experience films more fully regardless of language or physical limitations.

However, not all netizens are happy with the CBFC’s decision to make subtitles mandatory. Many have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction, arguing that subtitles can be distracting and interfere with the immersive movie-viewing experience.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: CBFC asks for 15 cuts and modifications in The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond; reduces kiss and rape visuals by 50%

The excitement around the upcoming horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla starring Akshay Kumar continues to build, and the makers have now taken a unique step to involve fans in the film’s promotional journey. Ahead of the official teaser launch scheduled for tomorrow, the team organized a special fan screening event where attendees got an exclusive first glimpse of the much-anticipated teaser.

The event, hosted by the makers of Bhooth Bangla, brought together a select group of fans who were treated to the teaser before its official digital debut. The initiative was aimed at creating early buzz around the film while also rewarding fans who have been eagerly waiting to see Akshay Kumar return in a spooky yet comedic avatar.

Sources close to the development reveal that the atmosphere at the screening was electric, with fans reacting enthusiastically to the first look of the film’s tone, visuals, and Akshay Kumar’s character. The teaser reportedly blends eerie elements with the signature humour that the actor is known for, hinting at a film that promises both chills and laughs.

The special preview event also allowed the makers to gauge the audience’s immediate response before the teaser drops across digital platforms tomorrow. With fan engagement becoming an increasingly important aspect of film promotions, such early screenings have proven to be an effective way to generate organic excitement on social media.

Bhooth Bangla marks a much-awaited collaboration between Akshay Kumar and veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, a duo known for delivering some of Bollywood’s most memorable comedy entertainers. Their reunion for a horror-comedy has already sparked significant curiosity among audiences and industry watchers alike.

With the official teaser of Bhooth Bangla set to release tomorrow, the early fan screening has successfully amplified the buzz around the project. All eyes are now on the digital launch to see how audiences across the country respond to the first full glimpse of the film.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar hangs upside down in spooky new Bhooth Bangla poster; teaser to drop on March 12

The advance booking of the paid previews of Dhurandhar: The Revenge has received an unbelievable response. What has surprised the trade and industry is that despite the ‘Super Blockbuster Plus’ rates, shows are filling fast. In short, the ticket prices are the highest ever, surpassing those of Pushpa 2 – The Rule (2024), Stree 2 (2024), Oppenheimer (2023), and others. In December 2024, Bollywood Hungama was the first to report that the costliest ticket was sold for Pushpa 2 at Rs. 3000 at Maison PVR, located in Jio World Drive, BKC, Mumbai. We have now learned that with Dhurandhar: The Revenge, one cinema has gone past even this exorbitant ticket rate.

At Inox Megaplex in Sky City Mall, Borivali, inaugurated in August 2025, the ticket rates of the 10:15 pm and 11:15 pm shows in the Insignia class are available for Rs. 2900 and Rs. 3100. Viewers will be stunned to know that despite such rates, the Recliner Prime class, whose tickets are available for Rs. 3100, are almost full. As of 8:30 am on March 12, only one ticket is yet to be sold in this class for both shows.

The other theatre in India that comes close to this rate is Inox M5 Ecity, Bengaluru. The ticket price range in the Dine-In screen is between Rs. 2000 and Rs. 2900. As for Maison PVR in Mumbai, which created a record with Pushpa 2, it is selling Recliner class tickets for Rs. 2500 and Rs. 2550 for Dhurandhar: The Revenge.

Bollywood Hungama went through the ticket rates of other theatres to find out how many of them are selling tickets for Rs. 2000 plus. In PVR Lower IMAX, Mumbai, the recliner seats are sold for Rs. 2500. In Inox Malad, the Insignia class tickets for the 11:00 pm and 11:50 pm shows are sold for Rs. 2200.

In PVR Versova, one can buy tickets for Recliner class for Rs. 1900 or Rs. 2100. In Inox Maison BKC, one will have to shell Rs. 2200 for Recliner seats while in Inox Nariman Point, one will have to pay Rs. 2300 and Rs. 2500 for Recliners. Rs. 2500 is the rate of one ticket in PVR Drive In, also located in Jio World Drive.

In Delhi-NCR, too, the rates are above Rs. 2000 in cinemas like PVR Vegas Dwarka (Luxe), PVR Superplex Logix Noida (Rs. 2300 in Gold Class), PVR Ambience Gurugram (Rs. 2000 and Rs. 2400 in Gold Class), PVR Select Citywalk (between Rs. 2000 and Rs. 2400 in the Recliner Section), PVR Cinemagic Pitampura (rates ranging from Rs. 1800 to Rs. 2400), PVR Director's Cut in Delhi and Noida (flat rate of Rs. 2400), Inox RCube Monad Mall Delhi (an Insignia-only theatre with a flat rate of Rs. 2400), MovieMax Edition Luxe Noida (recliners-only theatre with tickets sold at Rs. 2100 and Rs. 2400) and Inox Ardee Mall Gurugram (an Insignia-only theatre with tickets sold between Rs. 1800 to Rs. 2200).

In Bengaluru, the other theatre to sell tickets for Rs. 2000 was Cinepolis Nexus Shantiniketan for the VIP class.

Coming back to Mumbai, even in single screens, the prices have gone through the roof. Gaiety-Galaxy aka G7 multiplex, had increased the ticket price to Rs. 200 for the balcony and Rs. 180 for the stall for the first time for Pushpa 2 – The Rule. For Dhurandhar: The Revenge, while the stall rates are still maintained at Rs. 180, the balcony tickets are sold for Rs. 220. The same price points are also set for Maratha Mandir. The cheapest ticket in Mumbai is sold at Nishat Cinema. The Lower Stall ticket is available for just Rs. 150, while that of the Upper Stall is sold for Rs. 180. As for the balcony, one will need to pay Rs. 200 to buy a ticket. These rates are quite skyhigh for the humble cinema hall, which usually sells tickets for Rs. 70, Rs. 80 and Rs. 100.

Also Read: Dhurandhar: The Revenge trailer gets a luxe twist – Ranveer Singh sports Rs. 25 lakhs worth Rolex Daytona as Hamza

India’s billionaire ranks continue to expand, with the latest Hurun Global Rich List 2026 adding 57 new names and pushing the country’s total tally to 308 billionaires. Among the notable entrants this year is filmmaker and visual effects entrepreneur Namit Malhotra, whose journey from a modest editing setup in his father’s garage to heading one of the world’s most celebrated VFX studios that will now be producing the much-awaited Ranbir Kapoor, Yash starrer Ramayana, has become a remarkable success story.

Malhotra is the founder and CEO of DNEG, the global visual effects and animation company known for its work on several award-winning international films. Over the years, DNEG has earned multiple Academy Awards for its groundbreaking VFX contributions to Hollywood productions, cementing its reputation as a powerhouse in the global film industry.

Beyond his work in visual effects, Malhotra has also been actively involved in large-scale film production. He is currently backing one of the most ambitious projects in Indian cinema—Ramayana, a two-part cinematic retelling of the ancient epic. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film is designed as a grand mythological spectacle aimed at both Indian and global audiences. The first installment is expected to release during Diwali 2026, with the second part planned for a Diwali 2027 release.

The film features an impressive ensemble cast that brings together actors from across Indian cinema. Ranbir Kapoor will portray Lord Ram, while Sai Pallavi plays Sita. Yash, widely known for the KGF franchise, will appear as Ravana, and Sunny Deol takes on the role of Hanuman. Actor Ravi Dubey has been cast as Lakshman.

What makes the project particularly noteworthy is its scale. With a reported budget of around $100 million (approximately Rs.835 crore) for the first instalment alone, Ramayana is being positioned as one of the most expensive films ever produced in India. The production also relies heavily on cutting-edge technology, including advanced motion-capture techniques and large-scale visual effects.

Malhotra’s DNEG is overseeing the film’s VFX work, ensuring world-class visual storytelling. He has previously emphasised that the project has been developed with a “reverence-first” approach, with years of pre-production dedicated to honouring the epic’s cultural significance while presenting it with global cinematic standards.

With his entry into the Hurun billionaire list and the mounting anticipation around Ramayana, Namit Malhotra’s influence across both technology and filmmaking continues to grow on the world stage.

Also Read: Namit Malhotra to introduce all characters of Ramayana at a grand event on Ram Navami, deets inside

The walls seem to be closing in on Vijay, both personally and professionally. While his defiant stance on his alleged relationship with actress Trisha took a dramatic turn when the two appeared together at a wedding, on the professional front, Vijay is facing the music over a stampede case on September 27 last year resulting in the deaths of more than 40 people.

Now, Vijay has been asked to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an enquiry into the Karur stampede case.

However, sources close to Vijay say the actor-politician is in the “chill mode”.

“He is taking it all on the chin. Vijay feels all of these problems are happening to him simultaneously with a reason. God wants him to tackle all the problems headlong and emerge stronger. He also feels there is a concerted effort to downsize his image by political opponents. But Vijay is unperturbed.”

Also Read: Thalapathy Vijay spotted with Trisha Krishnan at wedding reception amid reports of marital trouble