In an explosive, soul-bearing interview with Bollywood Hungama, actress and activist Mandana Karimi opened up about the personal and professional toll her advocacy for Iran has taken. The actress, who has been vocal against the Iranian regime amid the escalating Middle East conflict, revealed that her career in India has come to a standstill due to her outspoken political stance.

“Well since January, I've literally have left my work. I'm not working anymore. All my contract got cancelled. I've become too activist I've become too open about politics and I have messaged. I have emailed to platforms. I've said let's talk about it. I have videos I have images from Iran - Why are you not covering it?” Karimi shared, underscoring her frustration at what she describes as silence despite having access to ground-level material.

The actress, known for her appearance on Bigg Boss 9 and films like Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3, also criticised sections of the Indian media for what she called skewed reporting. “No one has covered it and if they have covered it they were talking about how strong the regime is. They've kind of sold themselves into the whole propaganda of the government and Iranian government is very known for having these kind of Influencers or certain reporters to go to Iran and cover the situation. So I've been very disheartened from the media in India, and they haven't been covering well. Even now, when you look at India today, you know the way they're covering the news. It's so one-sided. It's not accurate - the answers and questions,” she stated.

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Karimi went on to urge Indian news platforms to provide space to opposition voices, specifically naming exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.“I would request Indian media - to whoever is watching this video from media – ‘Indian media, if you have brought the regime murderous Cabinet to India and you've actually given your platform to interview them and ask their opinion about what's happening in Iran; why aren't you bringing Reza Shah Pahlavi? Why aren't you bringing people who are working with Reza Shah Pahlavi? We want to also tell our side of the story’,” she urged.

She concluded with a pointed reminder: “Every story has two sides. It's never one-sided, right? You're a reporter, right? You're supposed to report the news. So why aren't you inviting Reza Pahlavi to your channel and let's talk.”

Her remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region. As of March 2026, the conflict has intensified following joint US-Israeli strikes targeting senior Iranian officials and military sites, prompting retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. With reports of internal unrest and uncertainty within Iran’s leadership, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, adding urgency to calls for broader global coverage of the crisis.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Mandana Karimi plans to return to Iran if regime changes amid conflict; says, “I feel like I don’t have a voice in India”

On Sunday, March 1, Bollywood Hungama announced that the trailer for Dhurandhar: The Revenge would be released digitally on Tuesday, March 3. However, by Monday, it emerged that Jio Studios was no longer planning to drop the highly anticipated promo on the stated date. Bollywood Hungama reached out to reliable sources to understand what triggered the last-minute change behind the scenes.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Reports of Dhurandhar: The Revenge’s trailer release on March 3 weren’t mere rumours. The makers genuinely planned to unveil it that day. But they were later informed that March 3 witnesses a Chandra Grahan (lunar eclipse), which is considered inauspicious for new beginnings. The inauspicious period is said to be from 9:39 am to 6:46 pm. Trailers are usually launched around noon, and this timing falls within the window. Hence, the team decided to postpone the trailer release.”

In February 2026, Bollywood Hungama had reported that the trailer of Dhurandhar: The Revenge would be launched on March 5 at Mumbai’s iconic Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC). That plan was eventually dropped, and a digital launch was scheduled for March 3. Now, however, it appears the makers might unveil the trailer on March 5 or March 6 on digital platforms, without an event. The suspense continues on the exact date.

The Dhurandhar series stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. The first part told the story of an Indian spy who infiltrates Pakistan’s criminal syndicate and political system and creates havoc.

Interestingly, Dhurandhar: The Revenge will have a gigantic clash at the box office with Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, it marks the return of Yash of KGF fame and also stars Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Akshay Oberoi and others. The trailer of this mass-appealing flick will be unveiled on March 8 in Bengaluru at a grand event.

Also Read: No Dhurandhar: The Revenge trailer launch on Holi? Here’s what we know

Actor Ahaan Panday has revealed that he underwent a major shoulder surgery following the release of Saiyaara, a procedure he describes as one of the most painful with the longest recovery period. In an interview with Esquire India, the actor shared that the decision to go under the knife stemmed from an old injury. A few years ago, Panday was involved in a snowmobile accident that resulted in a shoulder subluxation. The lingering impact of the injury began affecting his fitness goals, particularly as he prepared for an action film.

“I actually got a whole surgery done after the release of Saiyaara last year,” Panday said. “And it’s one of the most painful surgeries you can do, with the longest recovery time.”

According to him, his doctor had cautioned that post-surgery, his body would “go back to zero”, making it “nearly impossible” to achieve the desired physique for his next project. The warning did not deter him. Instead, Panday now says he feels satisfied being able to speak about the process and “prove everyone wrong.”

He reflected on how gym transformations in the film industry often serve as motivation, but pointed out that his journey was different. “I used to feel motivated by actors who had dramatic gym transformations,” he said, adding that those usually involved moving from an unhealthy body type to a healthier one. “This was different; I went from being injured, to not being able to move, to not being able to lift, to being able to lift.”

For months, Panday remained in a cast during recovery, a phase that he says largely went unnoticed. “I don’t know how nobody realised!” he remarked, amused. However, a few observant fans sensed something was off. Since Panday is not very active on social media, some turned to his mother’s fitness-focused social media pages, questioning why he appeared to be losing weight. “They were like, why is he losing so much weight,” he said, smiling at the memory.

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Having completed his recovery and returned to training, Panday is now focused on his upcoming projects. He will next be seen in a yet-untitled directorial by Ali Abbas Zafar, backed by Yash Raj Films. The actioner marks his second collaboration with the banner after Saiyaara, and the team has already commenced shooting.

Also Read: Ali Abbas Zafar on casting Ahaan Panday for next YRF film; says, “Audiences have connected with Ahaan because he’s simply present”

There was a time when it was not unusual for films to complete 50 or 100 weeks in cinemas. But as times passed and due to the shift in business models, increase in number of screens and rise of OTT platforms, it’s a feat even for a film to run for 50 days on the big screen. Hence, it’ll be a surprise for moviegoers to learn that a small-budget film, Ameena, is about to complete 100 weeks in theatres.

Ameena was released on April 12, 2024, that is, in the same week as Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Maidaan. Since then, popular films and grossers like Stree 2, Pushpa 2, Chhaava, Saiyaara, Mahavatar Narsimha etc., have been released and none of them ran for more than 10 or 15 weeks (Bollywood’s biggest grosser, Dhurandhar, currently in its 13th week and will also complete 15 weeks). Meanwhile, Ameena is running non-stop at Mumbai’s extremely popular MovieTime Hub multiplex in the morning show. At present, it is running in its 99th week; on Friday, March 6, it’ll complete 100 weeks and thus create history.

An industry insider told Bollywood Hungama, “Ideally, if a film is pulling in so many viewers for nearly two long years, it would have become a talking point on social media, the way it happens with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) or the longest running Gujarati film of all time, Chaal Jeevi Laiye (2019). People would have excitedly discussed the film’s plot, themes, performances, songs etc. But how many people do you know who have seen the film? Have you ever seen any tweet or Instagram post/story about it?”

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Ground reality check

Last week, when Ameena was in its 98th week, Bollywood Hungama decided to watch the film to get a first-hand sense of the ground reality. As per a ticketing website, 20 tickets had been sold for our show. The pattern seemed unusual because all seats in the screen were available at a flat price of Rs. 100. In a normal scenario, patrons would book the back rows first. But in the case of Ameena, 18 tickets were booked in the first two rows, followed by two seats in the third row from the front.

This writer purchased a ticket at the booking counter and, as expected, was the only person inside the auditorium. None of the 20 people who had supposedly booked tickets turned up. The show, however, began as scheduled. It was stifling inside, as the air-conditioning didn’t seem to be switched on. During the intermission, when this writer requested a staffer to turn on the AC, he looked in disbelief and asked if the writer was watching Ameena. When the writer nodded, the kind staffer assured it would be done, and he kept his word. It left us wondering: Is Ameena being screened every day to an empty hall

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Bollywood Hungama kept track of Ameena’s bookings on the ticketing website over the next few days and noticed a pattern: every day, 20 tickets for the show ‘get sold’ in the exact same order –18 in the first two rows, followed by two seats in the third row from the front.

That’s not all. The Instagram handle of the film’s production house, Kumar Raj Productions, has shared a video of a man informing his followers about Ameena’s unbelievable run. Text displayed throughout the video lists three phone numbers that viewers can call to get free tickets for Ameena. When the film was in its 65th week, a post mentioned in bold letters that tickets to the film were available for free.

Producer speaks up

Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to producer-director Kumar Raj, who also features in the film in a supporting role. He was very jovial and spoke warmly to us. He began by saying about his plans for the 100th week celebration, “We are going to call the press, party with them and gift them a 5-inch gold coin. Everyone who worked on the film would also be getting some gifts.”

He claimed that there’s a lot of demand even from foreign shores to write about Ameena, “I got a call from Time magazine. I don’t know if it was genuine or not! They were excited about the fact that Ameena is the first movie in the world to complete 100 weeks in the last 30 years. For 5 weeks, they were after me. Finally, I gave them an interview yesterday. I don’t know if they are going to publish a negative or positive report! As long as they are writing about our film, I am happy (smiles). They claimed that they are going to publish a full-page story along with posters of Ameena.”

The posters of Ameena, splashed across newspapers, mention that they are inviting OTT platforms to buy their film. Names of prominent streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Zee5, SonyLIV, JioHotstar etc. are mentioned. Even Voot gets a mention, though it merged with JioCinema (which later merged with Hotstar).

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However, Kumar Raj said, “I started getting a lot of offers from OTT in the very first week itself. But I was clear, ‘Picture jab tak chalti hai, chalne do’. My film was also released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.”

He continued, “A famous distributor from down South has arrived in Mumbai. Tomorrow, he’s going to see the movie. He wants to screen this film in several cinemas. In fact, he asked me to send him a flight ticket so that he could come down to Mumbai. But I categorically told him to fly down at his own cost.”

When asked about the average occupancy of Ameena’s shows, Kumar Raj replied, “On the weekends, it is 75% full. During the holidays, the show is 100% sold out. We are getting a lot of repeat audiences as well. During weekdays, shows are approx. 30% full. This is a huge feat, as even the biggest of films don’t get such an audience. At times, when I watch a biggie in the theatre, there are barely 4-5 people in the auditorium.”

He added, “You can ask the team of BookMyShow. They’ll officially provide you with actual collections of the film.”

Kumar Raj also opened up about his earlier film, Tara: The Journey Of Love And Passion (2013), “It has amassed 16 million views on one of the websites (YouTube). It has won 600 international awards and has a mention in 35 book of world records. However, I don’t like to blow my own trumpet.”

Finally, we asked him about the belief in the industry that he’s himself buying the tickets of Ameena. He smiled and simply replied, “Kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna.”

About Ameena and Tara

Ameena stars Rekha Rana in the lead role of Meena, a theatre actor. One day, she is brutally raped by three men. She fears that she may not get justice in the court of law and hence, decides to eliminate her rapists. Help comes in the form of a cartel of those directly or indirectly affected by rape. The other actors in the film are Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, Utkarsh Kohli, Manu Malkan etc. The film has been shot not just in Mumbai but also in Los Angeles, Senegal, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, as well as Cannes.

Meanwhile, Kumar Raj’s earlier film, Tara: The Journey Of Love And Passion also starred Rekha Rana. While Ameena aims to complete 100 weeks, Tara ‘ran’ for 50 weeks, in Mumbai’s now-defunct single-screen cinema, Imperial.

Yesterday, March 1, Bollywood Hungama reported that Dhurandhar: The Revenge is expected to run between 220 minutes (3 hours 40 minutes) and 235 minutes (3 hours 55 minutes). The much-awaited film clashes with Toxic on Eid (March 19), and the face-off has sparked major buzz across the trade, industry and fans. Bollywood Hungama has now learned that, like Dhurandhar, Toxic too is likely to be a lengthy affair.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Toxic’s final length is yet to be locked, but it comes to around 200 minutes, that is, 3 hours and 20 minutes. The makers feel that there’s enough entertainment and mass-appealing moments in the film and that the audience won’t get bored or restless. Also, earlier, having a long film would lead to a negative perception. But it all changed with Animal (2023). It was 3 hours and 21 minutes long and ran very successfully. In recent times, Border 2 (2026) was released with a runtime of 3 hours and 19 minutes. Not to forget, the duration of Dhurandhar’s (2026) first part was 3 hours and 34 minutes. All these films were huge hits and it remains to be seen if Toxic also follows suit.”

However, the exhibitors were already at their wits' end over the clash and the news of the runtimes of Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic have added to their woes. A single-screen cinema hall owner, said on condition of anonymity, sighed, “The distributors anyway were not going to be ready for show-sharing. But we hoped that it might be possible, especially if both films had concise lengths. But now, there’s no chance. It’ll be a challenge even for theatres with multiple screens to accommodate sufficient shows of both films.”

Meanwhile, it’s a crucial week as the trailer of Dhurandhar: The Revenge will be launched digitally on March 3, as confirmed by Bollywood Hungama yesterday in an article. As for Toxic, the makers have planned a grand trailer launch on March 8 in Bengaluru. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, it marks the return of Yash of KGF fame and also stars Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Akshay Oberoi and others.

Also Read: IMAX bets big on India: Ramayana, Toxic gets special mention in IMAX quarterly report amid RECORD $1.28 billion global box office earnings in 2025 from 1796 properties

Tiger Shroff celebrates his birthday today, March 2, and on this special occasion, Bollywood Hungama brings exciting news which will be lapped up by his fans. We have learned from reliable sources that Tiger’s upcoming film by director Ram Madhvani and producer Mahaveer Jain has been given a title.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “The film is named Vajra. The makers, as well as Tiger, feel that the title is apt for the storyline and also because it's connected with our rich Indian culture.”

The source continued, “In Vajra, Tiger Shroff will be seen in a never-seen-before avatar, one that blends raw power with emotional depth. He is extremely excited about Vajra and its concept and is working very hard. He's determined to give the audience an experience that they'll cherish. Ram Madhvani and Mahaveer Jain are also going all out to mount their spiritual big-budget action film on a grand scale.”

In November 2025, Bollywood Hungama was the first to report that Tiger Shroff had signed on for Ram Madhvani and Mahaveer Jain's film. At that time, a source had told us, “It's a spiritual action thriller. This has never been attempted before in Indian cinema. It has an appeal and huge potential for a global audience and not just the moviegoers of the Indian diaspora.”

The source continued, “Tiger Shroff will be undergoing extensive preparation for this ambitious film. It will go on floors in the second quarter of 2026. A major portion of the film will be shot in Japan.”

Also Read: Tiger Shroff delivers energetic stage performance on Valentine’s Day eve in Delhi

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is among the most celebrated directors of Indian Film industry, whose cinema has stood the test of time. His next, Love And War is a casting coup of the decade as the maverick filmmaker has brought Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal together for the first time. Earlier in the week, there were viral reports on how Love and War budget has shot up to Rs. 425 crores, and the production has gone into turmoil.

However, our reliable sources close to the project confirm that Love And War is proceeding as planned. "Love And War budgets have shot up for sure, but it happens with all Sanjay Leela Bhansali films. Initially, it was planned as a Rs. 250 crore epic, and the costs through the shoot have now shot up to Rs. 350 crores. SLB doesn't compromise on his vision, and he is passionately filming this, which he believes could be his best work to date. The Rs. 425 crore figure of cost of production is trying to harm the project on purpose, and there is no truth to the claims," a source shared with Bollywood Hungama.

The source told us further, "Unlike many high on VFX films, Love And War is largely shot on sets, with recreation of the era gone by. This doesn't cost much. Anyone who understands filmmaking would say that the Rs. 425 crore budget is a bluff. But truth finds its way, and it's for the people to know that Love And War is a Rs. 350 crore film, and the makers plan to splurge another Rs. 30 crore on marketing, taking total landing cost to Rs. 380 crore."

As for the release, Love And War will now be released in 2027, between the two Ramayana films. The shoot will be wrapped up by June.

Also Read: SCOOP: Ranbir Kapoor’s special request to Sanjay Leela Bhansali; release Love And War in June 2026

R Madhavan, his wife Sarita and son Vedaant, who are Dubai residents, got away from the current shutdown of the city.

The actor and his family are currently holidaying away from Dubai.

When this writer contacted Madhavan, he replied, “We are all fine. Thank you so much for the concern. I am in the US with the family.” Madhavan and his family intend to stay put in the US until Dubai returns to normal.

Kalpana Iyer, who is also a Dubai resident, confirmed to this writer that she is fine and safe.

Also Read: R Madhavan reveals how wife Sarita once ‘kicked him out’ during lockdown

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