Akshay Kumar has officially gone into alien territory. The actor has begun shooting for his much-awaited survival-action thriller Samuk, marking the reunion of him and producer-filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah for their seventh collaboration. Directed by Kanishk Varma, the film has gone on floors in London and is being mounted as a large-scale Pan-India theatrical release with global production ambitions.

According to industry sources, Akshay Kumar began filming for Samuk on August 23, 2026. As per an earlier report by Variety, the shooting was expected to commence in London as the makers are expected to shoot approximately 90 per cent of the film in the England capital, with the remaining portions planned in Mumbai. The production is being executed as one continuous schedule rather than being divided into multiple shooting legs.

The film, which has been in development for over two years, combines military realism, survival horror and alien mythology. The makers have brought together an international technical team to create the world of Samuk, including Academy Award-nominated creature effects designer Alec Gillis, who has worked on major creature-driven franchises including Alien and Predator. Gillis has designed the central alien creature for the film.

AKSHAY KUMAR - VIPUL AMRUTLAL SHAH REUNITE – ALIEN ACTION THRILLER 'SAMUK' SHOOTING BEGINS... #AkshayKumar is heading where he hasn't gone before – alien territory.

The actor has begun shooting for #Samuk, an ambitious survival-action thriller that brings together an… pic.twitter.com/dc4HMlStnn — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 24, 2026

The action is being designed by British action director Luke Tumber, further adding to the international scale of the project. The makers have also opted for extensive practical filmmaking, with the creature and action elements being developed to work as much as possible in a live-action environment.

Vipul Amrutlal Shah had earlier told Bollywood Hungama, “We are going to shoot extensively abroad. We plan to release it in 2027.” Speaking about the scale of the project, he had explained that the film was being developed to meet the expectations of audiences who now have access to global cinema through streaming platforms.

For Vipul Shah and Akshay Kumar, Samuk marks their seventh film together and another departure into a new genre. The producer has previously spoken about Akshay’s deep involvement in the project, revealing that the actor has been actively participating in discussions around various aspects of the film.

With filming now underway in London, Samuk is gearing up as one of Akshay Kumar’s most ambitious upcoming theatrical projects, bringing together a homegrown action star, an international creature-design team and a survival thriller set against an alien backdrop.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar’s alien thriller Samuk to begin London shoot on August 23

After Singham Again (2024), blockbuster filmmaker Rohit Shetty began working on a gritty action entertainer based on the life of decorated police officer Rakesh Maria. In January this year, Bollywood Hungama was the first one to reveal that the film has been titled Maria IPS. Now we bring to you another interesting piece of information about this film.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “John Abraham will be seen in a never-before-seen avatar in the film. Maria IPS spans nearly 40 years in the life of Rakesh Maria, tracing his journey from his 20s to his 60s. For the portions featuring Maria in his 20s and 30s, John bulked up and put on muscle to look the part. For the scenes where the character is in his late 50s and 60s, the actor underwent another physical transformation, losing weight to sport a leaner and fitter look.”

The source further said, “John Abraham has never undergone this kind of physical transformation for a film before. Audiences will get to see him across different stages of Rakesh Maria’s life, and his transformation is sure to take them by surprise.”

The shoot of Maria IPS began in July 2025, with the first schedule taking place at Ellora Studios near Mumbai, where a police station set was erected. During the two-week schedule, John Abraham and Rohit Shetty filmed several dramatic police station scenes and high-intensity interrogation sequences.

In February, we reported that portions of Maria IPS were also shot at various Western Railway premises. Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway (WR), exclusively told Bollywood Hungama, “John Abraham shot at the WR Headquarters in Churchgate, Lower Parel railway station and Mumbai Central railway station for Maria IPS.”

Also Read: SCOOP: John Abraham reunites with The Diplomat director Shivam Nair for two-hero action thriller

Aditya Seal and his wife, actor Anushka Ranjan, have stepped into parenthood with double the joy. The couple has welcomed twin baby girls and shared the news with their fans on social media. Along with announcing the arrival of their daughters, Anushka and Aditya also revealed their names, making the occasion even more special for their followers.

The twins were born on August 23, 2026. The couple introduced their daughters as Vira Ranjan Seal and Mahi Ranjan Seal through an adorable announcement card featuring illustrations of two little girls. Aditya also shared a heartfelt note on Instagram, expressing his happiness and gratitude as the family begins this new chapter. "My sunshines are here to brighten our lives. Our hearts are full of love and gratitude. Vira ♾️ Mahi #TeamGirl."

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Aditya Seal (@adityaseal)

The couple had announced Anushka’s pregnancy earlier this year through a series of maternity photographs. In May 2026, Anushka spoke to HT City about sharing the news and explained why they had waited before making the announcement. She said, “We are a little late in sharing the news as the baby is set to arrive in September. We wanted to give ourselves some time, hence the delay. Also, it has been an overwhelming moment for us to share the news with all. I was more nervous than ever, even announcing my wedding was easier than this, but now I am at peace and relaxed, as people’s response and the way our friends reacted is so emotional for us.”

Anushka and Aditya first met on June 26, 2017, at an event organized by Anushka’s NGO, Beti. Their friendship eventually developed into a relationship, and after dating for a few years, the couple got married in Mumbai in November 2021. Nearly five years into their marriage, they have now welcomed their twin daughters, Vira and Mahi.

The teaser of Gunmaaster G9, starring Emraan Hashmi, Genelia Deshmukh and Aparshakti Khurana, is set to premiere theatrically ahead of the screening of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups, offering audiences an early glimpse of the much-awaited action-romance.

While Gunmaaster G9 is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on November 27, 2026, the makers are kickstarting the film’s promotional campaign well in advance with a dedicated theatrical teaser premiere.

Rather than being attached to the print of Toxic, the teaser will be screened separately ahead of the film, giving Gunmaaster G9 a distinct theatrical showcase. With Toxic expected to draw substantial audiences, the move is poised to give the teaser an expansive reach while creating early curiosity around Emraan Hashmi’s next.

The film also marks a notable creative reunion. Soham Rockstar Entertainment and Deepak Mukut bring together Emraan Hashmi, Himesh Reshammiya and director Aditya Datt once again, following their collaboration on the 2005 musical blockbuster. Mukut is also reuniting with Himesh Reshammiya following the success of Sanam Teri Kasam.

Positioned as an action-romance, Gunmaaster G9 arrives at an interesting juncture in Emraan Hashmi’s career, following the strong response to Awarapan 2. The announcement of its release date had already generated considerable interest among the actor’s fans, and the theatrical unveiling of the teaser is expected to build further momentum around the film.

Starring Emraan Hashmi, Genelia Deshmukh, Aparshakti Khurana and introducing Abhishek Singh, Gunmaaster G9 is produced by Deepak Mukut, Hunar Mukut and Sangeeta Ahir and presented by Soham Rockstar Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Directed by Aditya Datt, the film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on November 27, 2026.

Gunmaaster G9 is a SRE Studio LLP production.

Also Read: Gunmaaster G9 director Aditya Datt reveals Aparshakti Khurana was his first choice to play the villain; says, “He has never played an out-and-out commercial and crazy-ass villain”

Bollywood playback singer Shantanu ‘Shaan’ Mukherjee and his wife Radhika Mukherjee have made a high-value addition to their real estate portfolio with the purchase of a luxury residence at Palmera in Bandra West. The couple has acquired a 6,300-square-foot home for Rs 48 crore in the upscale residential development. The transaction was registered on August 20, 2026, and was brokered by Propbay India LLP.

The residence has been created by combining three separate apartments spread across approximately one-and-a-half floors on the 18th level of the tower. Shaan’s latest property acquisition also adds another chapter to his family’s long-standing association with Bandra. His late father, musician Manas Mukherjee, had also lived in the Mumbai suburb.

Located at 8 Turner Road, near the junction of St Martin’s Road, Palmera is a boutique residential project developed by Pantheion Real Estate. The tower stands on the redeveloped plot that once housed the bungalow of veteran actress Mala Sinha. Rising 22 storeys above the ground, the development has only 32 residences, making it a low-density luxury address.

Palmera offers open-plan bare-shell apartments that can be customised according to the owners’ requirements. The residences feature private apartment lobbies, open decks and 3.3-metre floor-to-ceiling heights. Individual homes start at around 2,090 square feet of carpet area, while full-floor residences extend beyond 4,180 square feet.

The development also offers several lifestyle and wellness facilities, including a rooftop infinity pool, sky deck, gymnasium, Pilates and yoga studios, meditation rooms, spa, salon vanity room, business meeting room, banquet hall, game room, library, card room and children’s play area. Other facilities include a pet zone, EV charging stations and valet services.

Shaan’s Rs 48 crores purchase comes amid strong demand for premium homes in Mumbai. According to the Lighthouse Luxury Quarterly Real Estate Report, prepared with proptech intelligence platform Zapkey using verified Maharashtra government registration data, Mumbai recorded 1,499 luxury home registrations worth Rs 14,903 crore during Q1 FY27, covering April to June 2026.

The quarter saw nearly 16 luxury home transactions each day, with around Rs 164 crore in transaction value generated daily. April recorded the highest number of registrations at 563, valued at Rs 5,726 crores. Although registrations fell by 22.7 per cent in May to 435 deals worth Rs 4,492 crores, the average ticket size remained at Rs 10.3 crore.

The market picked up again in June, which saw 501 registrations worth Rs 4,686 crore. The recovery was largely driven by end-user demand for homes priced between Rs 5 crores and Rs 10 crores. Against this backdrop, Shaan’s high-value Palmera purchase reflects the continued appetite for premium residential properties in Mumbai.

Also Read : Shaan on cutting down drinking in his 40s: “Zindagi aapko parhez karna sikha deti hai”

Actor Arjun Rampal has officially married his longtime partner Gabriella Demetriades in Goa. The couple, who have been together since 2018, registered their marriage at the Sub-Registrar’s office in Mapusa, North Goa, in the presence of close friends.

According to PTI, Arjun and Gabriella completed the required marriage formalities at the office. The couple had earlier secured special permission from the Assistant Public Prosecutor of the local court to waive the mandatory 15-day waiting period between the first and second signatures required under Goa’s marriage laws.

Sub-Registrar Suraj Vernekar confirmed that the marriage was registered under Goa’s Uniform Civil Code. Arjun and Gabriella reportedly reached the office at around 4 pm and kept their appearance casual for the occasion.

The couple’s relationship began in 2018, following Arjun’s separation from his former wife, Mehr Jesia. They welcomed their first child, son Arik, in 2019, before making their relationship official through marriage. Four years later, they became parents to their second son, Ariv. In 2025, Arjun announced his engagement to Gabriella, six years after the two started dating.

Before their marriage, Arjun had spoken about his decision to stay unmarried despite sharing two children with Gabriella. During an appearance on Ranveer Allahbadia’s YouTube channel, the actor explained his perspective on marriage and the legal bond it creates.

Arjun said, “It’s not me, it’s not her. What is marriage? A piece of paper after all. I think we are already married and there is no doubt in my mind about that. But, sometimes what that piece of paper can also do is change you. Because it’s like you think it’s permanent, it’s a false notion in fact but you are just legally bound.”

He further explained, “It could change your attitude towards each other. I think that’s how we both feel. Whatever has happened between us was very organic. I don’t want to speak much about it because I don’t want to jinx it. I don’t think I need to justify this to anybody. For us, this is beautiful. You should keep experiencing it for as long as you can. In both our minds, we are married to each other. We are both pushing each other in the right direction and at the same time, we are boyfriend-girlfriend.”

Arjun had also clarified that his views did not mean he was against marriage. The couple has now formally registered their relationship, marking a new chapter in their journey together.

Also Read : Arjun Rampal marks silver jubilee of his Bollywood debut; expresses gratitude to Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and more: “Lots of Pyar Ishq aur mohabbat to all”

Sonu Nigam has opened up about his legal battle with Bihar-based criminal lawyer Sonu Nigam Singh, whose social media account was allegedly mistaken for that of the singer. The dispute, which involved alleged misuse of the singer’s identity and personality rights, has now been settled following an amicable agreement between the two parties.

The Bombay High Court recently disposed of the commercial intellectual property suit after the singer and the lawyer reached a settlement. However, Sonu Nigam has said that he is not completely satisfied with the outcome and believes that cases involving digital impersonation and identity rights require stricter legal action.

Speaking about the issue, the singer said, “I quit X in 2017 but this person kept impersonating me. If I met President Droupadi Murmu, he would post a photo as if I am posting it. It is cruel to put someone’s name, reputation and life at risk.”

Nigam further claimed that the alleged impersonation had consequences for him and his family. “My family and I started receiving threats for posts this guy had made. He would post something and people would hurl abuses at me,” he said.

The singer said he was relieved that the court had issued a strict warning to the lawyer, but felt that the consequences should have been more severe. “Such people should be put in prison. He may have not murdered me physically but he harmed me and my reputation. Saste mein chhoot gaya bahut. Even the PM (@narendramodi) follows him thinking that is my account,” Nigam said.

Sonu Nigam had filed the suit before the Bombay High Court in July last year, alleging violations of his personality rights and digital impersonation. The account in question was allegedly used to share politically charged and communally sensitive posts. Since Nigam had left X in 2017, the account was allegedly mistaken by some users for the singer’s official account.

While the legal dispute has now been resolved, Nigam’s comments highlight his concerns over the impact of social media impersonation on a public figure’s reputation and personal life.

Also Read : Sonu Nigam reveals he uses auto-tune in certain songs; says, “It can’t replace singers”

Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar has confirmed that work on a sequel to the 2011 hit Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is underway. The update comes as the film marks 15 years since its release and follows renewed excitement among fans after Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar reunited for a 2025 advertisement for Yas Island.

The trio’s reunion in the campaign brought back memories of their much-loved characters Arjun, Kabir and Imran. The commercial sparked speculation that the actors could be returning for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2, with several fans even assuming that the advertisement was connected to an upcoming sequel.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the Monsoon Film Festival, Zoya addressed the possibility of revisiting the characters and confirmed that discussions are taking place. “We are on it,” she said. However, the filmmaker made it clear that the project is still being developed and that there is no certainty about what shape it will eventually take.

“We don’t know what will happen and what won’t… if we will get to a place where it feels correct, in catching up with these characters today. But it will be nice,” Zoya added.

She also recalled the strong reaction to the 2025 advertisement featuring Hrithik, Abhay and Farhan. “People thought it was a trailer,” she said. According to Zoya, fans initially celebrated the reunion, only to express their disappointment when they realised it was not a film teaser. “First, they were like, ‘YEAH!’ But then I got abused in my DMs saying, ‘This was not funny.'”

Zoya also responded to criticism that her films often focus on the “angst of posh people.” She said the criticism does not bother her and maintained that filmmakers should be able to tell stories about different kinds of people.

“It still comes up, but it does not bother me now,” she said. “These are stories and, as a filmmaker, I get to tell stories of all kinds of people.”

Released in 2011, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara starred Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin and Naseeruddin Shah. Shot across Spain, India and the United Kingdom, the film was reportedly made on a budget of Rs 45 crores and earned around Rs 153 crores worldwide.

Also Read : Zoya Akhtar’s Turtle Walker to release on Animal Planet as part of India: Epic Wild Stories documentary anthology

The much-awaited action romance Gunmaaster G9, starring Emraan Hashmi, Genelia Deshmukh and Aparshakti Khurana, has locked its worldwide theatrical release date. The film, produced by Deepak Mukut, Hunar Mukut and Sangeeta Ahir, will arrive in cinemas on November 27, 2026. Directed by Aditya Datt, the film is presented by Soham Rockstar Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and is expected to bring together action, romance and music in an entertaining cinematic package.

The announcement also marks the reunion of Emraan Hashmi, Himesh Reshammiya and Aditya Datt, who previously collaborated on projects that became part of their respective journeys in the Hindi film industry. Their coming together for Gunmaaster G9 marks a reunion nearly two decades after their earlier collaborations, adding to the anticipation surrounding the project.

Producer Deepak Mukut said, “We were keen to bring Emraan Hashmi, Aditya Datt and Himesh Reshammiya together once again, and Gunmaaster G9 has given us the opportunity to do just that. Romance, action and music form a heady cocktail in the film, and it has come together beautifully.”

The film also marks another collaboration between Soham Rockstar Entertainment and music composer-singer Himesh Reshammiya. The production house and Reshammiya have previously worked together on musical successes including Sanam Teri Kasam and Genius.

#GunmaasterG9 is locked, loaded and ready to fire up the big screen on 27th November. And this time, it’s not just bullets firing. It’s romance, music and action coming to steal your heart.#G9 #Gunmaaster Produced by @DeepakMukut #HunarMukut @sangeetaahir

Presented by… pic.twitter.com/PDS3of8H6Z

— Emraan Hashmi (@emraanhashmi) August 17, 2026

Director Aditya Datt said, “Gunmaaster G9 has been one of the most demanding yet exhilarating films of my career. Our endeavour was to ensure that every action sequence, every emotion and every frame carries a sense of impact. Reuniting with Emraan and Himesh after all these years has been an extraordinary experience, and I am excited for audiences to see what we have created.”

With Emraan Hashmi, Genelia Deshmukh and Aparshakti Khurana coming together for the first time, Gunmaaster G9 aims to blend romance and action with a strong musical component. The film is a production of SRE Studio LLP and will have a worldwide theatrical release on November 27, 2026.

Also Read: Aparshakti Khurana reveals BTS moments with Emraan Hashmi after wrapping Gunmaaster G9 schedule; watch