Reports claiming that IPL founder and businessman Lalit Modi will enter the Bigg Boss 20 house have been denied by Modi, who has also issued a legal notice to publications and social media accounts that carried the claim. The clarification came a day after several social media accounts reported his alleged participation in the upcoming season of the Salman Khan-hosted reality show.

Taking to X early on Saturday morning, Modi categorically rejected the reports and said he has neither been approached for the show nor intends to participate in it.

“FAKE NEWS. PERIOD. I have NOT been approached for Bigg Boss 20. I am NOT participating in Bigg Boss 20. And I have NO intention of doing so. Amazing how a completely fabricated story can become ‘news’ without anyone bothering to ask the person concerned,” he wrote.

Modi also shared a legal notice issued by his lawyers, Hirani & Associates, and warned the publications and social media accounts that had carried the reports. “Perhaps next time, verify before you publish,” he added.

According to the legal notice, the reports suggesting that Modi had been signed as a contestant on Bigg Boss 20 are “false, baseless and mischievous.” His lawyers further clarified that Modi had not been approached by the show's producers, broadcasters, channel or any representative associated with the programme.

FAKE NEWS. PERIOD. I have NOT been approached for Bigg Boss 20. I am NOT participating in Bigg Boss 20. And I have NO intention of doing so.

Amazing how a completely fabricated story can become “news” without anyone bothering to ask the person concerned.

My lawyers have issued… pic.twitter.com/DUQZUbqUYn

— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) August 14, 2026

“Our Client hereby clarifies that the said reports are false, baseless and mischievous. Our Client has not been approached by the producers, broadcasters, channel or any representative of the said Programme; no person has been authorised to represent our Client or to hold out on his behalf in respect thereof; and our Client has not consented to, and has no intention of, participating in or being associated with the said Programme in any manner whatsoever,” the notice stated.

The legal notice also pointed out that Modi had not confirmed his alleged participation to any publication. It stated that the reports were published without verification or authorisation and objected to the use of Modi's name, image, photograph, likeness, voice and other personality attributes to suggest an association with Bigg Boss 20.

Meanwhile, anticipation around the 20th season of Bigg Boss continues to build. Salman Khan is returning as the host, with the Hindi edition scheduled to premiere on September 6 on JioHotstar and Colors. The show's first trailer has already teased a new format element, with Salman introducing an additional ‘jeevan daan’, or lifeline, for contestants.

Also Read: Is Elnaaz Norouzi entering Bigg Boss 20? Here’s what we know

In February, Bollywood Hungama exclusively revealed that Priyadarshan’s 2006 comedy Malamaal Weekly is getting a sequel. Since then, we have been regularly updating about the film and we recently also unveiled the leading female cast, which includes Parineeti Chopra, Raveena Tandon and Shilpa Shirodkar. Now, we can reveal the male leads of the project.

Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that Riteish Deshmukh, Elvish Yadav, Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav have been locked for Malamaal Weekly 2. Though Riteish is leading the film, sources close to the production have said that he is still reading the script and is yet to sign on the dotted line. The sequel is moving ahead with the original trio of Riteish, Paresh and Rajpal returning for the leads, along with Elvish Yadav joining as a new casting addition to the principal cast. Yadav is a popular YouTube content creator and the winner of Big Boss OTT Season 2 (2023), and this film will mark his second Bollywood outing following his debut with Tiger Shroff and Remo D'Souza's upcoming action drama. All the actors have verbally been confirmed, with the formal paperwork currently underway.

Malamaal Weekly 2 will feature a completely new storyline. However, it will retain the core thematic flavour of the original — a group of ordinary people in a small town, driven by poverty, greed and the prospect of sudden wealth, finding themselves caught in an increasingly chaotic situation. Amit Joshi, who co-directed Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon's robotic rom-com Teri Baton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, has been brought on board to helm this film. He's currently fine-tuning the script, with plans to take it into production by November 2026.

Released in 2006, Malamaal Weekly was a box office success and was remade in three Southern languages, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, with Priyadarshan himself directing the Malayalam adaptation. The comedy revolved around Lilaram, a lottery ticket seller and the only literate villager. After one of his customers dies from the shock of winning a lottery, he hatches a plan to have that money all for himself. However, others from the village have also got their eyes on the money, leading to chaotic greed and comedic rivalry among the villagers. Malamaal Weekly 2 is expected to retain the comic spirit of the original while delivering a full-fledged comedy of errors for audiences.

Also Read: MEGA EXCLUSIVE: Raveena Tandon and Parineeti Chopra join the cast of Malamaal Weekly 2

The trailer of Ramayana was released on July 30 and continues to dominate conversations nearly two weeks later. The film boasts a sprawling star cast, but one actor whose contribution promises to be particularly fascinating is Chetan Hansraj. Interestingly, the actor will be seen playing not one or two, but as many as seven characters in the epic saga!

In an interview with Hindustan Times, the 54-year-old actor confirmed that in Ramayana, he plays the role of Raja Mali, the maternal grandfather of Ravana (Yash). Chetan Hansraj told Hindustan Times, “Raja Mali is an important character that went down in history, and my scenes with Yash are pure fire. He is such a delight on screen, and these two characters complement each other wonderfully. It was huge for me.”

He then revealed, “After my part was wrapped, I was offered six motion-capture characters, including one of Ravana’s brothers and a demon.”

Chetan Hansraj also opened up on the criticism of the film and comparisons with Ramanand Sagar’s iconic TV series, Ramayan. He said, “We have the best action directors from Hollywood and Bollywood, and technicians on board, like Terry Notary... Makers today want to give the best cinematic experience, and that’s a vision we should understand. People who once see it on the right medium will forget all these comparisons, I am sure.”

Besides Chetan Hansraj, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. It is directed by Nitesh Tiwari of Dangal (2016) fame and produced by Namit Malhotra. The music is composed by A R Rahman and Hans Zimmer. It's a two-part saga with the first part releasing on Diwali 2026. As for the second part, it'll arrive on the big screen on Diwali 2027. Interestingly, while the first part will release in India on November 8, it will arrive in international markets two days earlier, on November 6.

Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor hits back at Ramayan VFX critics; says, “There’s countless hours of work where artists are working for years”

On August 10, Bollywood Hungama reported that PVR Inox Pictures, the distributors of Batwara 1947, have demanded all the shows in single-screen cinemas. This added to the exhibitors' woes, as Awarapan 2 also releases this Friday, August 14. On top of it, the Batwara 1947 distributors asked for seven shows a day in two-screen theatres, 10 shows in three-screen multiplexes, 12 shows a day in four-screen cinemas and 15 shows a day in five-screen multiplexes. However, as per the latest reports from exhibitors, the demand has now undergone a change.

An exhibition source told Bollywood Hungama, “Earlier, their requirement was that 60% to 70% of the shows should be allotted to Batwara 1947. However, they have now taken note of the exhibitors’ concerns. As a result, they have agreed to a 50-50 showcasing arrangement for both films.”

As per some exhibitors, the 50-50 arrangement will also apply to single-screen cinemas. However, most single-screen theatres across the country are yet to open bookings. One of the rare exceptions is the iconic Raj Mandir Cinema in Jaipur, which has allotted two shows each to Awarapan 2 and Batwara 1947.

Spider-Man adds to exhibitors’ woes

But even as one issue appears to have been resolved, exhibitors are now faced with another challenge. On Tuesday, the distributors of Spider-Man: Brand New Day sent an email to cinemas, asking them to continue playing the film with a substantial number of shows.

A trade source revealed, “In single-screen cinemas, they have asked for a minimum of two shows a day, while in two-screen theatres, the requirement is at least three shows daily. In three-screen cinemas, they have asked exhibitors to allot one full screen, comprising five shows a day, to Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In four-screen properties, the demand is for seven to eight shows, including at least one evening and one night show. In five-screen cinemas, they have asked for nine shows, while properties with six screens or more have been asked to allot 11 to 12 shows. They have also specified that at least two screens should be allotted to the film in six-screen plexes.”

The source further said, “Sony’s directive has once again left exhibitors anxious as they are unsure how to divide the shows between the three films. Of course, Sony feels justified in making these demands as Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues to remain rock-solid at the box office. It collected around Rs. 9 crores on Tuesday, and it is clear that the film will continue to perform strongly over the Independence Day weekend. But for exhibitors, the challenge will be to divide the available shows in a way that satisfies all three distributors.”

An exhibitor from Nawalgarh, Rajasthan, speaking on the condition of anonymity, sighed, “We always face this problem of doing ‘batwara’ of shows while making sure that none of the distributors is upset with us. We just wonder when this ‘awarapan’ will end.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Batwara 1947 vs Awarapan 2 show-sharing TUSSLE begins; distributor of Sunny Deol-starrer asks for ALL shows in single-screens; Spider-Man’s rock-steady run complicates the battle

2026 is turning out to be a great year for Wamiqa Gabbi. The Jubilee actress kicked off the year with the box-office success of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla, followed it up with Pati, Patni Aur Woh Do, and is now earning acclaim for her performance as Chandra in her recently released Tamil film, DC: The Bloody Valentine. Her “acche din” are set to continue, as she has now bagged possibly the biggest film of her career.

Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that Wamiqa Gabbi has been signed on for Rishab Shetty’s upcoming pan-India mythological epic, Jai Hanuman. She will play a prominent and powerful character in the Prasanth Varma directorial, though details about her role are being kept under wraps. The actress is said to be excited about stepping into the immersive world of mythology, action and devotion, and will soon join the film’s Hyderabad schedule.

Jai Hanuman is the much-awaited sequel to Prasanth Varma’s 2024 blockbuster Hanu-Man, which starred Teja Sajja as a petty thief who discovers Hanuman-like powers. Rishab Shetty, who emerged as a pan-India star following the phenomenal success of the Kantara franchise, takes over as the lead in the sequel and will essay the role of Lord Hanuman. The film is described as a high-octane action epic set in Kaliyug that celebrates Hanuman’s unshakable devotion, loyalty and timeless strength while presenting him as an immortal spirit.

Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and presented by T-Series, Jai Hanuman expands the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU), a superhero universe drawing profound inspiration from the sacred tapestry of Indian history. Other upcoming films under the PVCU include Mahakali, centred on Goddess Kali, and Adhira, based on Lord Indra. The film went on floors in March, and shooting has since been progressing at a brisk pace, with a mega theatrical release planned for the second half of 2027.

Meanwhile, Wamiqa has several exciting projects lined up. She will next be seen alongside Rajkummar Rao in Maddock Films’ Prahaar, set to release in September, and will follow it up with Adivi Sesh’s action thriller Goodachari 2 later this year. Her upcoming slate also includes Dil Ka Darwaza Khol Na Darling with Siddhant Chaturvedi, Genie with Ravi Mohan, and Dharma Productions’ Kuku Ki Kundali, co-starring Bhuvan Bam.

Also Read: Wamiqa Gabbi says brother Puran Gabbi earned Awarapan 2 on his own merit in an emotional post after the trailer release

Yesterday, Bollywood Hungama reported that The Odyssey continues to remain rock-solid at the box office despite the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The Christopher Nolan-directed film has collected Rs. 166.89 crores in 24 days, of which a huge Rs. 74.21 crores has come from IMAX screens. The film, which released on July 17, has enjoyed exclusive access to IMAX shows ever since, thanks to its historic response. However, from Friday, August 14, The Odyssey will begin sharing IMAX shows with the Anne Hathaway-starrer, The End Of Oak Street.

A trade source told Bollywood Hungama, “The End Of Oak Street is a big-scale film and also features dinosaurs. Hence, it’ll make for a great watch in IMAX. It is being released by Warner Bros, which also distributed Universal Pictures’ The Odyssey in India. Since the same team is handling both films, it has become easier to divide the shows between the two.”

The source continued, “Warner Bros has asked IMAX theatres to play The End Of Oak Street in two prime slots, while the remaining three or four shows can be allotted to The Odyssey.”

The source further said, “In normal screens, the distribution team has been very reasonable with its demands. Keeping in mind that two major Hindi films, Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2, will also release on August 14, they have asked for just two shows in three-screen theatres and three shows in cinemas with four screens or more. Meanwhile, in IMAX and 4DX, they have asked for two shows.”

Spider-Man, Odyssey benefit from discounts

Meanwhile, both The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are expected to record strong collections today, August 11, thanks to the Tuesday ticket offer. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently in its second week. Last Tuesday, Sony had opted out of the discounted pricing as the superhero film was enjoying a blockbuster run at the box office.

The momentum continues this week, but audiences can now watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day at reduced ticket rates. Tickets for regular shows are available for just Rs. 149 or Rs. 199, while PXL tickets are being sold for Rs. 249.

The Odyssey, meanwhile, has been part of the Tuesday offer on regular screens in the previous weeks. However, for the first time since its release, its IMAX shows have also come under the discounted Tuesday pricing. Most cinemas are selling IMAX tickets today in the range of Rs. 299 to Rs. 499. The reduced rates have led to extraordinary occupancy for the IMAX version of the Christopher Nolan-directorial.

Also Read: The Odyssey stays rock-solid despite Spider-Man: Brand New Day; collects Rs. 166.89 cr in 24 days; IMAX contributes HUGE Rs. 74.21 cr

An exhibition called Big Cine Expo is held every year where theatre owners, design consultants, equipment manufacturers, system integrators, project management professionals, and industry stakeholders come together to celebrate cinema and the exhibition sector. One major highlight of the expo is the presentation of exclusive footage from an upcoming film. And at this year’s edition of Big Cine Expo, attendees will get a chance to watch exclusive glimpses of arguably the most awaited film of the year – Ramayana! The period epic stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sunny Deol, Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta and others.

The Big Cine Expo 2026 will be held on August 18 and 19 in Chennai, and the Ramayana glimpse preview will take place on the first day. Attendees will be strictly prohibited from using their mobile phones or recording any part of the presentation. This is because the team will showcase visuals from the film that have not yet been revealed to the public. Members of the organizing team will also be stationed inside the screening area to ensure that no one records the footage or clicks any pictures or videos during the presentation.

However, the film’s actors, director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra, will not be present at the Big Cine Expo. Instead, Parminder Chadda, Technical Head at Prime Focus, will present the exclusive Ramayana footage.

In the 2024 edition of Big Cine Expo, Atlee shared exclusive glimpses of the Varun Dhawan-starrer Baby John (2024). A year before that, Boney Kapoor showed some scenes from his acclaimed film Maidaan (2024), while in 2022, exciting scenes from the Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer Brahmastra (2022) were shown to the attendees.

Big honours at IMAX Big Cine Awards

On the same day, August 18, the IMAX Big Cine Awards 2026 will also take place. Blockbuster filmmaker Rakesh Roshan will be felicitated with the Special Achievement Award. Meanwhile, Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar, run by Vishek Chauhan, will be honoured with the Best Single-Screen Theatre of the Year Award. Vishek Chauhan is well-known in industry circles for his no-holds-barred and headline-grabbing views on cinema exhibition and the box office, and has also recently turned author.

Roopbani Cinema will share the honour with Mukta A2 Bharatmata in Lalbaug, Mumbai. The heritage single-screen theatre, which has been an important destination for Marathi and regional cinema since 1941, remained shut for a few years before reopening earlier this year on March 24. The revamped theatre now boasts Dolby Surround Sound, 2K laser projection and upgraded seating options, including recliners and sofas.

AMB Cinemas, City Pride, Roongta Cinemas, Rajhans Cinemas, Connplex Cinemas, Starline Cinemas and several other cinemas and exhibition chains will also be honoured across various categories at the awards.

Also Read: Nagarjuna praises Ramayana: Part 1 trailer; says, “I really liked Yash and Ranbir Kapoor”

As Excel Entertainment marks 25 years in the Hindi film industry, co-founders Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar have announced Excel Origins, an initiative aimed at discovering and supporting a new generation of filmmakers.

Sidhwani and Akhtar announced the initiative through their social media posts, looking back at the journey that began with Dil Chahta Hai. The 2001 film, which marked Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut, went on to become an influential coming-of-age film and established Excel Entertainment’s interest in backing fresh voices.

Reflecting on the company’s beginnings, the duo noted that they were 26 when they started Excel Entertainment. “We didn’t have all the answers but we had an idea we believed in, the courage to take risks and the tenacity to make it happen,” they said.

With Excel Origins, the filmmakers now intend to extend that philosophy to emerging talent. The initiative will focus on filmmakers under 30, with the aim of identifying writers and directors with distinctive voices and supporting them in developing original stories.

The initiative will explore projects across genres and formats, while also creating opportunities for emerging actors and other creative talent.

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Looking ahead, Sidhwani and Akhtar said the next 25 years would include “Excel empowering young, aspiring filmmakers with bold ideas and the courage to tell stories differently.”

The initiative, they added, is ultimately about investing in “where cinema goes next.”

Also Read: Excel Entertainment launches Excel Music label with Universal Music Group partnership

Film director Shakeel Noorani, 73, has been arrested in Mumbai following a complaint filed by a 33-year-old actor, who has alleged that she was raped after being called to his residence in Malwani. According to the police complaint, Noorani allegedly invited the actor to his house on the pretext of discussing an upcoming film project.

The actor has alleged that after she reached the director's residence, she was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted. The complaint further states that Noorani allegedly threatened her following the incident. Police subsequently registered a case based on the actor's allegations and arrested the filmmaker.

Following his arrest, Noorani was produced before the Borivali Holiday Court. The court has reportedly remanded him to police custody until August 12, during which the police are expected to investigate the allegations and gather further evidence in the case.

The allegations are currently part of an ongoing investigation, and the charges against Noorani have not been established in court.

Shakeel Noorani has been associated with Hindi cinema as a writer, producer and director. He is known for films including Bade Dilwala, released in 1999, and Joru Ka Ghulam, which came out in 2000.

The latest case has brought the veteran filmmaker into the spotlight as Mumbai Police continue their investigation into the actor's allegations. Further details regarding the case are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses and the police record statements and examine other evidence connected to the complaint.

Noorani's police custody is scheduled to continue until August 12, following which he is expected to be produced before the court again. The investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the allegations and the events that allegedly took place at his Malwani residence.

Manoj Bajpayee’s latest film, Governor, has reached the No. 1 spot on Prime Video’s overall movie trending charts in India following its move from the rental service to regular streaming. The film, backed by Sunshine Pictures and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, is based on the 1991 financial crisis and explores the story of an unsung figure whose decisions played an important role during the period of economic uncertainty.

Directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, Governor first released in theatres, where it drew attention for its subject and realistic portrayal of a significant chapter in India’s economic history. Following its theatrical run, the film made its digital debut on Prime Video’s rental service before becoming available for regular streaming to subscribers in India.

During its initial OTT release, Governor climbed to the top of Prime Video’s Rent Charts, surpassing several international titles, including Obsession. After becoming available to all Prime Video subscribers, the film continued its digital run by securing the No. 1 position on the platform’s overall movie trending charts in India.

Manoj Bajpayee leads the film, portraying the central character against the backdrop of the 1991 economic crisis. His performance forms an important part of the film’s narrative, with the story focusing on the personal and professional challenges surrounding the historic period. The film combines its economic and political backdrop with a human element, making the events accessible to a wider audience.

The film has been presented by Sunshine Pictures and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, with Aashin A. Shah serving as co-producer. The screenplay has been written by Suvendu Bhattacharjee, Saurabh Bharat, Ravi Asrani, and Vipul Amrutlal Shah.

The film’s music has been composed by Amit Trivedi, while the lyrics have been penned by Javed Akhtar. With its latest achievement on Prime Video India, Governor has continued its digital journey after its theatrical release, reaching audiences across the streaming platform.

Also Read : Governor OTT release: Manoj Bajpayee-led historical drama now on Prime Video

Siddhant Chaturvedi has reportedly made another major property investment in Mumbai. The actor, along with his mother Meenal Laxman Chaturvedi, has purchased an apartment in Vile Parle West for Rs 12.63 crores. The latest deal comes just weeks after the mother-son duo bought another apartment in the same residential building for Rs 13.91 crores.

According to property registration documents accessed by real estate consultancy firm Liases Foras, the latest transaction was registered on July 31, 2026. The apartment is located on the seventh floor of Namo Krishna, a residential building situated on 10 N S Road in Mumbai’s Vile Parle West.

The newly purchased home has a RERA carpet area of 1,640.63 square feet and a total area of 1,804.67 square feet. The property also includes an automatic robotic car parking space. Siddhant and his mother purchased the apartment from Relcon Infraprojects Ltd and paid Rs 75.76 lakh as stamp duty for the transaction.

The latest purchase is notable because it follows another high-value property deal by the actor in the same building. On June 19, 2026, Siddhant and Meenal purchased an apartment on the sixth floor of Namo Krishna for Rs 13.91 crores. That property has a carpet area of 2,173.87 square feet and a built-up area of 222.24 square metres. The apartment was purchased from Suchita Ramesh Deora through an Agreement for Sale.

With the latest transaction, Siddhant and his mother have collectively spent more than Rs 26.5 crores on two apartments in the same building within less than two months.

Siddhant Chaturvedi began his acting career with the Amazon Prime Video series Inside Edge, in which he played a teenage cricketer from 2017 to 2019. He later made his film debut in a supporting role as a street rapper in the musical drama Gully Boy in 2019. He subsequently moved into lead roles and appeared in projects including the romantic drama Gehraiyaan (2022) and the coming-of-age drama Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023), both of which found an audience through streaming platforms.

Also Read : Siddhant Chaturvedi returns as face of Crocs’ Echo franchise for new ‘Let Them Talk’ campaign