Veteran Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi returned to the spotlight on Thursday as the Bombay High Court took up his petition to quash a 2019 rape FIR lodged against him at the Versova Police Station in Mumbai. The case involves allegations made by a female Bollywood actress.

Pancholi’s legal team, led by advocate Prashant Patil, urged the court to dismiss the FIR on grounds that it was filed many years after the alleged incident, describing the complaint as “malicious” and lacking in timely evidence. The plea cited legal precedent, notably the Supreme Court’s Bhajanlal judgment,  which allows quashing of criminal proceedings under specific circumstances.

During Thursday’s hearing, the defence also presented a recording of a meeting prior to the FIR being filed, which they claim demonstrates “wrongful intention” behind the complaint. The court noted the submission but did not rule on its admissibility, opting instead to focus on procedural matters at this stage. A key point raised in court was the complainant’s absence from the police investigation. The public prosecutor informed the bench that despite 11 notices sent by the investigating agency, the actress did not appear for questioning. In light of this, the Bombay High Court issued a fresh notice directing her to be present at the next hearing scheduled for February 24, 2026.

Pancholi, whose career spans decades with varied roles in Hindi cinema, has previously rejected the allegations, calling them false and asserting his willingness to cooperate with authorities. As the case returns to court next week, all eyes will remain on developments in one of Bollywood’s longest-running legal sagas.

Also Read: Aditya Pancholi claims he lost Tezaab to Anil Kapoor due to industry lobbying in cryptic note: “Politics in the film industry runs deeper”

Balaji Motion Pictures officially unveils Ragini 3, a gripping date-night horror that promises thrills, humour, and edge-of-your-seat entertainment. The film will be headlined by Tamannaah Bhatia, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Shashanka Ghosh, and will feature Junaid Khan opposite Tamannaah.

Marking an exciting new chapter, Ragini 3 brings together a dynamic team, with Shashanka Ghosh stepping in as Director, while Sahir Raza continues to be the creative force on the project. With this association, the scale of the film has risen to new heights, making it one of the most anticipated films in the genre. This project also marks another collaboration between Shashanka Ghosh and Balaji Motion Pictures, following their successful association on films like Veere Di Wedding and Freddy. With Ragini 3, the team aims to deliver a bold, fresh, and stylised Date Night Horror experience.

Tamannaah Bhatia, celebrated for her versatility and commanding screen presence across industries, takes on the lead role, bringing glamour, intensity, and intrigue to the narrative. She was always the one and only choice for the film. Joining her is Junaid Khan, who continues to impress with his unconventional choices and nuanced performances, making this a fresh and exciting new on-screen pairing.

Produced by Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, Ragini 3 is already generating strong buzz. Further details about the project remain under wraps, but anticipation around this Date Night Horror continues to build.

Also Read: Tamannaah Bhatia’s Ragini MMS 3 put on hold as director Sahir Raza exits amid scheduling clash: Report

Swanand Kirkire is set to take on a new role in his career as he makes his debut as a show creator with the upcoming Prime Video series Bandwaale. The series is co-created by Swanand along with Ankur Tewari and will see him stepping into long-form storytelling for the first time. Apart from creating the series, Swanand will also be seen playing the lead role in the show.

Bandwaale is expected to explore themes rooted in music and narrative, bringing together his interest in storytelling and performance. Speaking about his debut as a show creator, Swanand shared, “For a very long time, stories have lived with me, some through music, some through characters, and some quietly in my head.” He added that the format of a series allowed the story to unfold in a more detailed manner. “Bandwaale is a result of those stories finally finding a form that allows them to breathe over time,” he said.

Talking about balancing his responsibilities as both creator and actor, Swanand said, “It’s a different responsibility when you’re shaping an entire world while also living inside it as a character.” He also shared that working on a series format required a more layered approach, where the writing, performances, and overall world-building needed to stay connected throughout. Swanand mentioned that the experience pushed him to collaborate more closely with the team and trust the storytelling process, especially since the narrative unfolds over a longer duration compared to films.

With Bandwaale, Swanand Kirkire marks his first outing as a show creator while also continuing his acting journey. The series is set to stream on Prime Video.

Also Read: Bandwaale: Prime Video drops trailer of musical dramedy starring Zahan Kapoor and Shalini Pandey

After reading about the very talented comic actor Rajpal Yadav’s poignant proclamation in a publication that he has no friends in the film industry, actor Gurmeet Chowdhary has come forward to offer financial aid to the incarcerated actor in the cheque-bounce case.

Said Gurmeet, “It is heart-breaking to see an actor of Rajpal ji’s seniority behind bars for such an offence when white collar criminals get away with siphoning millions. I am going to do all I can to help Rajpal ji financially. I also urge my colleagues in the film industry to come forward to help one of their troubled colleagues. Rajpal ji has given so much to our entertainment industry. He doesn’t deserve this.”

Last week, before surrendering to Tihar Jail in the check-bounce case, Rajpal Yadav told this writer, “Sir, kya karoon? Mere paas paise nahin hain (sir, what to do? I don’t have the money to pay back). Aur koi upaay nahin dikhta (can’t see another way out).”

When Yadav was asked whether his rich friends from the industry haven’t come out to help him, he said, “Sir, yahan hum sab akele hain (sir, we are all on our own over here). There are no friends. I have to deal with this crisis on my own.”

After his statement became viral, a number of people from the film industry have come out to help Rajpal Yadav financially. These include, Sonu Sood, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, David Dhawan and others.

Also Read: Rajpal Yadav debt case: Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, David Dhawan, and others extend financial support

Janhvi Kapoor is gradually making inroads into the South. While she is being paid much more in Telugu cinema than what she gets in Bollywood, she is now trying to conquer the Tamil arena as well.

One hears Janhvi has inked a deal for a web series in Tamil with Netflix for an impressive fee (approximately Rs. 20 crores). The series, a female-oriented subject, is being directed by the popular Pa Ranjith, who directed Rajinikanth in the two back-to-back releases Kabali and Kaala.

For her latest Telugu outing Peddi, co-starring Ram Charan, Janhvi has been paid around Rs. 14 crores, which makes her the highest paid Telugu actress of all times.

How did this happen? It started with Devara in 2024 when she was offered the heroine’s part. Initially, Janhvi rejected the offer as she didn’t want to go regional, as it would impact her Hindi career.

It was her father producer Boney Kapoor who insisted she do the film… at an exorbitant price, which, to her surprise, the producers were willing to pay.

Also Read: Janhvi Kapoor reveals her new haircare obsession as Pantene unveils Miracle Rescue Bond Repair Conditioner

Actor Ranveer Singh has received a threat, prompting a police probe and heightened security at his Mumbai residence. According to a report by PTI, the actor was sent a threatening voice message, following which the authorities initiated an investigation.

Police sources confirmed that the Crime Branch is currently examining the voice note and attempting to trace the sender. A search operation has been launched as part of the inquiry.

In the wake of the threat, security arrangements at the residence shared by Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have reportedly been strengthened. According to a letter circulating online and attributed to the society managing committee of the residential complex, six armed private security guards have been stationed at the premises along with one uniformed police personnel. The letter notes that such deployment was not in place earlier.

The society has raised concerns about the movement of armed guards through common areas, including the lobby, gymnasium and children’s play area. Residents have expressed discomfort and flagged safety concerns over the presence of weapons in shared spaces.

In a letter dated February 10 addressed to Dadar Police, the Society Managing Committee sought clarification on multiple points. These include whether the private security guards are carrying licensed firearms within the residential premises, whether Dadar Police Station has granted permission for such deployment, and details regarding the police personnel stationed at the flat — including the department responsible and the nature of the assignment.

While acknowledging and appreciating the police department’s prompt action in sending an officer to verify the security arrangements, the society has requested official clarification to address concerns among residents. Police officials have not yet disclosed further details about the content of the threatening message. The investigation remains ongoing.

Also Read: “Ranveer Singh is absolutely beautiful to watch on screen,” says ‘Shararat’ song fame Ayesha Khan

Actor Vikrant Massey addressed widespread rumours surrounding his alleged role in Ramayana, a two-part film directed by Nitesh Tiwari, and reports that he was replaced by Raghav Juyal. The speculation began earlier this week, triggering reactions across social media and entertainment outlets.

In a post shared on his Instagram Stories, Massey firmly denied being part of the project. “Ok. To put the rumours to rest. I never was a part of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayan,” he wrote, reflecting on the coverage that suggested he had lost a role in the film. “The many media portals reporting about my supposed ‘replacement’ should’ve done the requisite background check. Disappointing. Nonetheless, wishing everyone a part of the movie all the very best. Love.”

The actor later deleted the post from his Instagram Story, though no explanation was given for its removal.

The controversy stemmed from a report by Variety India mentioning that Raghav Juyal had been cast as Meghanad (also called Indrajit) — the eldest son of Ravana and a key warrior in the Ramayana narrative — for Ramayana: Part 2. The same report indicated that the role was once linked to Massey before the filmmakers made a different casting choice. The publication quoted a source saying, “The role was initially supposed to be played by Vikrant Massey, but things apparently didn't work out. Raghav was subsequently approached, and he immediately came on board.”

Despite the buzz, Massey made it clear he had no official involvement with the project at any stage. The deleted clarification post was his way of countering the growing speculation.

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana is being produced as a two-part cinematic adaptation of the ancient Indian epic and is expected to be among the biggest live-action films in Indian cinema. Ranbir Kapoor headlines as Lord Ram, while Sai Pallavi plays Goddess Sita. Yash embodies Ravana, with Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The ensemble cast also includes several other prominent actors in key roles.

The first part of Ramayana is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release, while the second installment is expected around Diwali 2027.

Also Read: Musafir Café on Netflix: Vikrant Massey, Vedika Pinto and Mahima Makwana lead a soulful love story

Earlier in the day, Bollywood Hungama announced that the much-awaited film, Battle Of Galwan, might not be able to make it on April 17, as scheduled. The news went viral as soon as it went live. We now bring to you another exciting update – the new release date of the Salman Khan-starrer.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Battle Of Galwan has indeed been postponed and it’ll now release on August 14, 2026. Salman Khan and the makers are of the opinion that it would be a better date since India’s Independence Day falls on August 15. The patriotic sentiment will be at an all-time high and Battle Of Galwan would be an ideal flick to watch in this period.”

The source further said, “The makers are expected to shortly announce the new release date of Battle Of Galwan officially.”

Earlier, Bollywood Hungama, in its article, carried a quote from a source who explained the reason for the delay, “The shoot is not yet over and the reshoot is taking more time than expected. From Monday, February 9, a one-week schedule will commence in the Golden Tobacco Factory in Mumbai. After this schedule gets over, a few more days of shooting are left and by February-end, it’ll be a wrap.”

The source further said, “Director Apoorva Lakhia will begin editing the reshot portions. And that’s not all. As per the rules, Battle Of Galwan needs to be shown to the Ministry of Defence and this process might also take time. Due to these two reasons, the makers feel that they would not be able to meet the April 17 deadline. Salman Khan is clear that such a special, patriotic film needs to be nurtured well. He has told the team of the film that they should not rush through the process and take their time in ensuring that the final product looks appealing, compelling and cinematic.”

Interestingly, Battle Of Galwan will now clash with Kartik Aaryan-starrer Naagzilla.

Also Read: Salman Khan back on Battle Of Galwan sets for 15-day additional shoot and patchwork; action scene added

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) completed 100 years in 2025. As part of its centenary celebrations, a grand two-day event is being held at a sprawling auditorium in Mumbai. The first day of the event took place on Saturday, February 7, with several prominent personalities from various fields in attendance. The Bollywood film fraternity was not far behind and many celebs attended the first day of the event like superstars Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, filmmakers Mohit Suri, Subhash Ghai, Nitesh Tiwari, Mahaveer Jain, Om Raut, Vikram Malhotra, lyricist Prasoon Joshi and others.

The second day of the event was also star-studded. While Ranbir attended the first day of the event, his Love & War co-star Vicky Kaushal made his presence felt on day 2. Karan Johar and Ananya Panday were also present and they were joined by veteran actor Jackie Shroff, the evergreen Raveena Tandon and Shilpa Shetty, music composer Pritam Chakraborty, singer Adnan Sami, television star Rupali Ganguly, Marathi actor Subodh Bhave, talented performer Viineet Kumar Siingh, and filmmakers Nitesh Tiwari, Madhur Bhandarkar, Mahesh Manjrekar, Aanand, L Rai, Amar Kaushik, Amit Sharma, Ramesh Taurani, Anand Pandit, Arunabh Kumar and others.

On the film front, Ananya Panday and Karan Johar are gearing up for their romantic flick, Chand Mera Dil. It also stars Lakshya of Kill (2024) and The Ba***ds Of Bollywood (2025) fame and is directed by Vivek Soni, whose Netflix original Aap Jaisa Koi (2025), starring R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, received rave reviews.

Ananya Panday and Karan Johar’s last film together, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri (2025), was released in cinemas on Christmas. It recently premiered on Amazon Prime Video on rent. Meanwhile, Ananya is currently working on the second season of Call Me Bae. Incidentally, the slice-of-life show is also backed by Karan Johar.

Besides Call Me Bae Season 2 and Chand Mera Dil, Karan Johar is also gearing up for the Konkona Sen Sharma-Pratibha Ranta Netflix film Accused, Kartik Aaryan-starrer Naagzilla, Ayushmann Khurrana-Sara Ali Khan untitled flick, a thriller with Aditya Roy Kapur etc.

Also Read: Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and others attend the 100-year celebration event of RSS in Mumbai

Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter has reportedly made a significant real estate investment in Mumbai, purchasing a luxury apartment in the city’s upscale Pali Hill neighbourhood for Rs. 29.37 crore. The transaction details have emerged through property registration documents accessed by real estate data platform CRE Matrix.

According to the documents, Ishaan has acquired the apartment at Navroz Apartments, located in Bandra’s Pali Hill, under the Navroze Premises Co-operative Society. The high-end residence boasts a carpet area of 2,989.05 square feet, making it a spacious addition to the actor’s property portfolio. The seller of the apartment has been identified as Kapil M. Mahtani, and the transaction was officially registered on February 5, 2026.

The paperwork further reveals that the actor paid approximately Rs. 1.76 crore in stamp duty for the deal. In addition to the apartment, the purchase also includes four dedicated parking spaces, a valuable asset in one of Mumbai’s most sought-after residential zones. As of now, Ishaan Khatter has not issued any official statement confirming or commenting on the property purchase.

Pali Hill, situated in Bandra, continues to remain one of Mumbai’s most prestigious and exclusive residential areas. Known for its prime location and accessibility, the locality has long been home to several prominent Bollywood personalities and high-net-worth celebrities such as Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Dilip Kumar, Jackie Shroff, and Sanjay Dutt, among others, own properties in and around the Pali Hill area, further underlining its elite status.

The reported purchase comes at a time when Ishaan Khatter is enjoying a notable phase in his career. The actor received widespread appreciation for his performance in Homebound, co-starring Vishal Jethwa and marking a reunion with his debut co-star Janhvi Kapoor. Produced by Dharma Productions and Neeraj Ghaywan, the film gained international attention and even entered the Oscars nomination race, bringing global visibility to the project.

Closer home, Ishaan also connected with Indian audiences through the Netflix series The Royals, where he featured alongside Bhumi Pednekar, Sakshi Tanwar, and Zeenat Aman. With strong critical and audience reception to his recent work, the actor’s reported investment in a prime Mumbai property appears to reflect both professional stability and long-term planning.

Also Read: Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa react to Homebound losing the Oscar race in heartfelt Instagram posts

Bollywood Hungama has been at the forefront in providing timely updates about Battle Of Galwan. We are now back with another news, which might disappoint those who have been waiting to catch the Salman Khan-starrer on the big screen. As per latest developments, the superstar and the makers of the film are toying with the idea of delaying the release.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Battle Of Galwan is scheduled to be released on April 17. But the shoot is not yet over and the reshoot is taking more time than expected. From Monday, February 9, a one-week schedule will commence in the Golden Tobacco Factory in Mumbai. After this schedule gets over, a few more days of shooting are left and by February-end, it’ll be a wrap.”

The source further said, “Director Apoorva Lakhia will begin editing the reshot portions. And that’s not all. As per the rules, Battle Of Galwan needs to be shown to the Ministry of Defence and this process might also take time. Due to these two reasons, the makers feel that they would not be able to meet the April 17 deadline. Salman Khan is clear that such a special, patriotic film needs to be nurtured well. He has told the team of the film that they should not rush through the process and take their time in ensuring that the final product looks appealing, compelling and cinematic.”

The source continued, “Though Salman Khan and Apoorva Lakhia are seriously considering postponing the Battle Of Galwan, they are yet to take the final call. Salman bhai is unpredictable; he might still get the film out on April 17 despite the circumstances, but the chances seem remote. A clearer picture is expected to emerge in a few days from now.”

Besides Salman Khan, Battle Of Galwan also stars Chitrangda Singh. Salman plays the role of Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu in this film, which is based on a chapter in the book ‘India’s Most Fearless 3’ (2022), authored by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh. The film is inspired by the events of June 15, 2020, when Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed in the Galwan Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also Read: Salman Khan BREAKS SILENCE on trolls over Battle of Galwan teaser expression: “Ye Colonel ka look hai”

The Varanasi team’s widely circulated interview with Screen Rant features a rather awkward moment. When the interviewer asks Priyanka Chopra about her Telugu debut in Varanasi, the actor says she cannot remember when she last did a Telugu film.

Mahesh Babu quickly steps in to add, “This is her first Telugu film.”

But that is not entirely accurate. Priyanka Chopra had, in fact, featured in the Telugu version of the Amitabh Bachchan classic Zanjeer in 2013. Titled Thoofan, the Ram Charan starrer had Priyanka playing his love interest in what was admittedly a small role.

At the time, Chopra had expressed considerable gratitude to the makers of Thoofan, as opportunities in Bollywood were scarce for her then.

A senior member of the Thoofan team views her current statement as a case of selective amnesia. “When we signed her for Thoofan, nobody in the Hindi film industry was willing to sign her. We ourselves felt the role was not substantial enough for a future global star like her. But she was eager and did the role happily. Now she seems to have forgotten her Telugu debut altogether,” the team member says.

Sources suggest that the Varanasi team is keen to position the film as Priyanka Chopra’s Telugu debut. But should that come at the cost of factual accuracy?

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra Jonas reveals her ONLY request for Varanasi was to dance: “Poor Mahesh Babu had to do it too”