Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah has stated that The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond does not target the state of Kerala or its people. His remarks came after the Kerala High Court Division Bench vacated the interim stay on the film’s release on Friday, February 27, clearing the path for its theatrical run.

Addressing the media shortly after the court’s decision, Shah said that the legal hurdle had been removed and screenings had begun. He described the film as a “true” account made after considerable effort and rejected allegations from certain quarters that it promotes propaganda.

“The Kerala High Court Division Bench has withdrawn the stay that we got yesterday. And they have cleared the way for the release of the film. Now our shows have already started opening. So I request the people that this is a true film made with a lot of hard work. And the biggest proof of the truth of our film is that the Kerala court has vacated the stay order. If our film was a lie, then the Kerala court would have seen it and the stay order would not have been vacated,” he said.

#WATCH | Mumbai: Kerala High Court Division Bench lifts the stay on the release of the film Kerala Story 2 Kerala Story 2 Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah says, "Neither our film, nor I, nor anyone in my team is against the state of Kerala or the people of Kerala. Kerala is a… pic.twitter.com/caiaeJcktn

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2026

Shah also expressed gratitude to the court on behalf of his team and appealed to audiences in Kerala to approach the film with an open mind. Emphasising that neither he nor his team holds any bias against the state—often referred to as ‘God’s Own Country’—he maintained that the intention behind the project was not to malign Kerala.

With the stay lifted, attention now shifts to the film’s release plans across theatres. The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond features Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha in the lead roles.

An official update on its wider theatrical rollout is awaited.

Also Read: Kerala HC Division Bench lifts stay on The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond

Actor-entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty has expanded her hospitality portfolio with the launch of Bastian Hospitality’s first beach club in Mumbai. The new property, Bastian Beach Club, was unveiled alongside founder Ranjit Bindra at the iconic Sun-n-Sand in Juhu.

Positioned as the city’s first all-day beachfront destination, the club brings together dining, music, leisure and wellness in one large-format space overlooking the Arabian Sea. With direct sea views and a sprawling pool at its centre, the venue aims to introduce a European-style beach club experience to Mumbai’s social circuit. Design and space Designed by Minal Chopra, the property draws aesthetic cues from coastal destinations such as Ibiza, Mykonos and Saint-Tropez. Open layouts, fluid indoor-outdoor transitions and a neutral coastal palette define the space, while the sea-facing deck and pool area serve as its visual anchor.

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During the day, the focus is on relaxed lounging. The club is designed to host brunches, family outings and curated children’s activities, alongside wellness-led mornings. As the evening progresses, the mood shifts to sundowners and live DJ-led sessions, eventually transitioning into a high-energy nightlife setting. The food programme The culinary direction combines popular dishes from Bastian’s existing menu with influences from Inka, offering Asian and Latin-inspired flavours. The small plates section includes dishes such as Veg Dry Corn Ceviche with chipotle and green apple, Like Guacamole with habanero, and Rock Broccolini tossed with curry leaf and chilli. Seafood options feature Hamachi Ceviche paired with sweet potato and tiger milk.

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Sushi, bao and dumplings form a key part of the menu, while larger plates include the Tropical Bowl with coconut milk and turmeric-spiced cottage cheese and Kinoko Hikari with wild mushrooms and truffle oil. Non-vegetarian offerings include the 5 Pimientas Chicken Bowl and Arabian Seabass Amazonico.

Desserts range from tiramisu and cheesecake to a hazelnut pull-me-up cake and a citrus-forward lime-lemon creation. Cocktail-led evenings The bar menu has been curated to complement the coastal theme. The Sakura Cloud Martini blends gin, sake and lychee topped with jasmine foam. Tigre Verde pairs vodka with coriander and citrus, while Pacific Breeze combines tequila with lemongrass, ginger and coconut water. The Shogun Mojito introduces shiso and sake into the classic mix.

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Bastian Beach Club is located at 39, Sun-n-Sand, Juhu Beach, Mumbai. It operates from Tuesday to Sunday, 4 pm to 1 am. The weekend cover charge is priced at Rs 5,000 per person.

Also Read: Shilpa Shetty performs puja for new Bastian outlet in Goa amid Rs 60 crores fraud case

The Big Fat South Indian Wedding of Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda on February 26 promises to be special on many counts. A guest from the Udaipur venue revealed that the couple intends to go through two separate ceremonies.

“The first wedding will be in the Telugu tradition while the second ceremony will be in the Kodava tradition, peculiar to the Coorg district in Karnataka, which Rashmika belongs to,” revealed a guest from Udaipur.

Apparently, it was Vijay’s idea to have two different ceremonies to honour the culture and communities that the couple belongs to.

Also Read: Rashmika Mandanna-Vijay Deverakonda wedding: From taking just a short break post-marriage to starting their joint production house, here’s the dope around the star couple before their big leap

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has stirred a fresh debate on the future of cinema, calling AI tool “Seedance 2.0” the “murderer of the film industry” while also describing it as a force of liberation.

In a post shared on February 25, 2026, Varma argued that advanced AI filmmaking tools could dismantle the traditional structure of the movie business. Referring to blockbuster filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli, he wrote that directors like Rajamouli command massive budgets due to their proven creative vision and track record. However, he questioned how many equally talented storytellers across India never get access to funding or industry networks.

According to Varma, tools like Seedance 2.0 have “kicked the gate down and set it on fire,” enabling creators from small towns to generate large-scale, cinematic visuals using descriptive prompts alone. He described it as “true democracy in motion,” suggesting that AI shifts power away from a select few and into the hands of the masses.

Varma went further, predicting a structural collapse of the current filmmaking ecosystem. “A director’s primary job is to take a scene on paper and transfer it onto screen,” he wrote, listing the vast crew involved in the process. Advanced AI, he claimed, could eliminate the need for actors, technicians, production teams and even large budgets.

“No more star issues. No more producers panicking over budgets. No more 300 people standing around waiting for one shot. Just one person. One prompt. One mind,” he stated.

Calling the evolution inevitable, Varma likened the shift to an asteroid striking dinosaurs. “The dinosaurs had their 100 year reign. Now the asteroid has arrived. And its name is A I,” he wrote, adding that the industry “will get murdered brutally — not slowly, not peacefully.”

SEEDANCE 2.0 , the MURDERER of FILM INDUSTRY Leaving aside its copyright infringements etc which is another matter , here’s my take on Seedance 2.0

@ssrajsmouli is the no. 1 director because he makes the most expensive films and the most successful ..People fund him a 1000…

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) February 25, 2026

He concluded by posing a provocative question: Is this the death of the film industry, or its ultimate democratisation?

Varma’s remarks have already sparked conversations on the social media platform, reigniting the ongoing debate over whether artificial intelligence will disrupt or redefine the future of cinema.

Also Read: Ram Gopal Verma says he “pities the ones who will come in Dhurandhar 2’s way” ahead of its release on March 19

Actress Priyamani has reportedly joined the cast of Golmaal 5, the latest instalment of Rohit Shetty’s popular comedy franchise. The development marks her reunion with Ajay Devgn after their collaboration in Maidaan.

According to Variety India, the first shooting schedule is expected to span approximately a month. Filming for the film commenced on Monday, February 23, in Mumbai, with Ajay Devgn slated to join the sets on February 25. While details about Priyamani’s character are being kept under wraps, reports suggest that she has already begun shooting her portions.

The Golmaal franchise remains one of Hindi cinema’s most commercially successful comedy series, known for its ensemble-driven storytelling and recurring characters. The fifth instalment will see the return of its core cast, including Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Kunal Kemmu and Shreyas Talpade. Veteran performers Johnny Lever, Sanjay Mishra, Mukesh Tiwari and Ashwini Kalsekar are also set to reprise their popular roles.

There have also been reports suggesting that Akshay Kumar may join the cast. However, the makers have not officially confirmed this development.

The film’s production gains momentum weeks after an alarming incident at Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence, where five rounds of bullets were reportedly fired. The Mumbai Crime Branch investigation revealed that the vehicle used in the firing was sourced from Pune. Officials earlier stated that the accused, including Subham Lonkar, allegedly intended to create panic in the city. Investigators also said that Rs 40,000 was transferred to one of the arrested accused, who was in contact with Lonkar through a single messaging application.

Also Read: SCOOP: Rohit Shetty takes the Do Aur Do Paanch route for Golmaal 5; sets up a Tom & Jerry rivalry between Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar

The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond is all set to release this Friday, February 27, and it has managed to create considerable noise on social media because of its shocking and controversial content. Usually, such films often contain disturbing content and, as a result, are meant for only adult-viewing. Hence, it was a surprise for the trade and industry that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) passed the film with a U/A 16+ certificate.

However, the CBFC asked for 16 cuts or modifications in the film. To begin with, the visuals of kissing were reduced by 50%. In short, the lip-lock scene was shortened by 7 seconds. Similarly, the rape scene visuals were also reduced by 50%, that is, by 20 seconds. Two scenes - one of a woman being slapped and the other of a woman's head being hit - were both reduced by 2 seconds.

The visuals of the house of the accused being demolished with a bulldozer were asked to be modified. Three dialogues, at three different places, were modified while a word was asked to be muted. However, no details of these are available in the cut list.

The makers were instructed to add a disclaimer that the film is based on true events. The duration of the static text, presumably a disclaimer, was asked to be increased by 2 minute and 3 seconds, along with voice over. The makers were asked to submit the script, as per script dialogue and also submit proper documents for a true event depicted in the film. Finally, a consent letter was submitted to the CBFC for casting a minor artist in the film.

Once these changes were made, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond was handed over the censor certificate on February 16. The length of the film, as mentioned on the censor certificate, is 131.24 minutes. In other words, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond is 2 hours, 11 minutes and 24 seconds long.

The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond is produced by Vipul Shah and directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh. It stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia and Aishwarya Ojha in leading roles. It releases in cinemas on February 27.

Also Read: Makers of the The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond unveil character posters of Ulka Gupta, Aishwarya Ojha and Aditi Bhatia

The Red Lorry Film Festival, India’s premier destination for world cinema, will present a special retrospective honouring acclaimed filmmaker Pradip Krishen, spotlighting his rare and influential body of work.

Titled A Retrospective Celebrating Filmmaker Pradip Krishen, the showcase will revisit three of Krishen’s most distinctive films: In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, Electric Moon, and Massey Sahib, offering audiences a chance to experience his sharp storytelling.

Pradip Krishen remains one of Indian cinema’s most original filmmakers. His campus cult classic In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, written by Arundhati Roy captured the spirit of 1970s Delhi student life with wit and quiet rebellion. His debut feature Massey Sahib earned international acclaim and launched the career of Raghuvir Yadav, while Electric Moon stood out for its satirical take on post colonial India. Beyond cinema, Krishen stepped away from filmmaking to become one of India’s leading naturalists.

Ashish Saksena, COO Cinemas, BookMyShow and Festival Director, Red Lorry Film Festival, said, “Pradip Krishen’s films occupy a special place in Indian cinema for their originality, intelligence and cultural depth. Through this retrospective, we are proud to bring his landmark works back to the big screen for new and longtime audiences of the Red Lorry Film Festival.”

“This is a pinch-me-to-see-if-I’m-dreaming moment for me! Truly an honour to have all 3 of my films shown together at the Red Lorry Festival in Mumbai. Wonderful to be able to see them return to the big screen,” says filmmaker Pradip Krishen.

The Red Lorry Film Festival will be held from 13 to 15 March in Mumbai and will feature over 120 films from across the world. Festival passes are now available on BookMyShow.

Also Read: Subhash Ghai jokes at Karz screening at Red Lorry Film Festival: “Date during my film and you’ll end up married” – Neetu Kapoor agrees; takes a dig at Filmfare for snubbing Simi Garewal’s performance, says “It’s their LOSS”

Sunny Deol began 2026 with a bang with Border 2 and he’s expected to release multiple films this year, all of which look exciting. The most awaited of them is Lahore 1947. It reunites Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi and is produced by Aamir Khan. Aamir will also be seen in the film in a supporting role and it also stars Preity Zinta, Ali Fazal and Shabana Azmi. Due to the stellar team and Sunny’s booming track record, Lahore 1947 is a film that is expected to set the cash registers ringing. However, as per the buzz in the trade, the makers of the film are looking for a change of title.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Lahore 1947 is based on the famous play ‘Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya’. Since the film is set in the Pakistani city and during the Independence period, the title Lahore 1947 was initially deemed suitable. But now the makers feel that there can be a better title that is apt for the story of the film.”

The source continued, “Accordingly, they have come up with a few options. Another round of meeting will happen with the stakeholders and if all are on the same page, the name of the film will undergo a change.”

A few days ago, the makers of Lahore 1947 announced that their labour of love would be released on August 13, that is, in the beneficial Independence Day week.

The play, ‘Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya’, was written by Syed Asghar Wajahat in 1980. The Partition-era story revolves around a Muslim family which migrates from Lucknow to Lahore and is allotted a haveli vacated by a Hindu family. The old Hindu matriarch refuses to leave her ancestral home and she also strikes a rare bond with the Muslim immigrants.

Also Read: Aamir Khan productions’ Lahore 1947, starring Sunny Deol, locks Independence week release; deets inside

India registered a significant achievement at the BAFTA 2026 awards as the Manipuri-language film Boong won the Best Children’s & Family Film honour. Backed by Farhan Akhtar, the film emerged victorious over international nominees including Arco, Lilo & Stitch and Zootropolis 2.

The win is being seen as a major moment for Indian cinema, particularly for stories emerging from the Northeast. It underscores the growing global visibility of regional narratives that centre on local realities while addressing universal themes. Farhan Akhtar attended the ceremony along with his wife, Shibani Dandekar.

Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, Boong is set in Manipur against the backdrop of social and political unrest. The title translates to “little boy” in Manipuri. The film follows a young boy, Boong, played by Gugun Kipgen, who believes that reuniting his family will restore happiness to his mother, Mandakini, portrayed by Bala Hijam. Determined to find his missing father, Boong embarks on a journey with his best friend Raju, played by Angom Sanamatum.

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Their search takes them to the border town of Moreh and across into Myanmar, adding both emotional and geographical depth to the narrative. Through a child’s perspective, the film examines themes of loss, hope and resilience amid uncertainty.

Before its theatrical release in September 2025, Boong had already drawn international attention on the festival circuit. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024 and was later screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and the Warsaw International Film Festival, where it received positive critical response.

Also Read: Aamir Khan refutes reports of playing mediator in Farhan Akhtar-Ranveer Singh dispute