Month: February 2026

Basking in the success of ‘Mardaani 3’, actor Rani Mukerji has described the film’s milestones as “deeply personal”.

The film, which opened in theatres last month, has taken the ‘Mardaani’ franchise forward by becoming the highest-grossing instalment.

‘Mardaani 3’ has collected Rs 47.55 crore in India, surpassing the earnings of the previous films that made Rs 47.51 crore (Mardaani 2) and Rs 35.86 crore (Mardaani) respectively.

It also earned Rs 71.70 crore, beating the previous instalments by a great margin.

Thrilled over having delivered a hat-trick of hits with the ‘Mardaani’ films, Rani Mukerji said, “I have always believed that Mardaani is not just a film, it is a voice — a voice for every woman who refuses to be silenced. The love and success of Mardaani 3 feels deeply personal because it tells me that audiences are not just watching someone like Shivani Shivaji Roy’s journey; they are standing with her for justice, for the victory of good over evil. This franchise stood for courage, for the resilience that women carry within them every single day. I am grateful, humbled, and more determined than ever to continue telling stories that matter,” as per the press release.

Reflecting on the hat-trick of hits with ‘Mardaani’, she explained how the films discusses important social issues.

“It will always be a call to address such crimes head-on and tell us not to look away because it might not be affecting us. Even if one girl is affected, targeted, and attacked, it is the failure of our society that we haven’t been able to protect her,” she continued.

Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, ‘Mardaani 3’ marks the return of Rani Mukerji as the tough and fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy.

The film also features a new villain, with Mallika Prasad as the merciless, evil, and powerful ‘Amma’, she is shown as responsible for handling a beggar mafia, mostly targeting child victims. (ANI)

Hours after the teaser of Yash’s upcoming film ‘Toxic’ was released, actor Rishab Shetty shared his excitement and sent his best wishes to the team.

Shetty took to his X account on Friday to react to the teaser. In his post, he showed his excitement for the film and wished the team well. The actor also sent love to director Geetu Mohandas and referred to Yash as the “Rocking Star.”

“It’s gonna get crazyyy!!! #ToxicTeaser out now! #Toxic in cinemas worldwide from 19-03-2026,” Shetty wrote on X.

The teaser, which was unveiled earlier in the day, opens with visuals that hint at a war, with Yash placed at the centre of the action. The scenes move from a circus-like setting to an East Asian-style backdrop. The teaser suggests that the story moves across different time periods and carries a dark and intense mood.

The first glimpse of the film was unveiled in January earlier this year. The two-minute, fifty-two-second clip offered a striking glimpse into Yash’s intense and enigmatic character as Raya. Set against the backdrop of a cemetery, the teaser opened with a blaze of action, with gunfire cutting through the silence, signalling the arrival of Yash as the composed, fearless, and unflinching Raya with a Tommy gun.

Toxic marks Yash’s return to the big screen after ‘KGF: Chapter 2’. Produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic is set to hit theatres on March 19, 2026. (ANI)

Sometimes, it is the smallest gestures that convey the deepest emotions. And this time, singer-actor Nick Jonas once again proved why fans across the world call him a total “green flag.”

While promoting his wife, actor Priyanka Chopra’s upcoming Hollywood film ‘The Bluff’, Nick was spotted wearing PeeCee’s mangalsutra as a bracelet. The subtle nod to their marriage caught the attention of fans on social media, with many praising the singer-actor for displaying his unwavering love and respect for his wife’s traditions even years after their 2018 wedding.

The actor-singer took to Instagram on Thursday, where he appeared in full supportive-husband mode. In the clip, Nick Jonas can be seen whipping up a cocktail inspired by Priyanka’s character from the film. “Guys, it is the premiere of Priyanka’s film ‘The Bluff’ on Amazon Prime. It is incredible, I’ve seen it twice,” Jonas can be heard saying in the clip.

Take a look

Soon after the actor dropped the video, fans flooded the comments section, pointing out the mangalsutra bracelet and showering the couple with love. “Oh, he is wearing a mangalsutra bracelet yaar,” wrote one user, while another commented, “Nick jiju is the best.” Several others went a step further, calling him a “green flag” for proudly embracing a symbol that holds deep cultural meaning in Indian marriages.

Nick and Priyanka, who married in 2018 with both Christian and Hindu ceremonies, have often spoken about respecting and celebrating each other’s traditions.

Meanwhile, talking about Priyanka’s upcoming film, The Bluff, it is directed by Frank E. Flowers. Set in the Cayman Islands, the film promises high-octane action, with Priyanka taking on intense sword and gun sequences opposite Karl Urban. The film is slated to release on Prime Video on February 25. (ANI)

Actor Hrithik Roshan is all praise for Shahid Kapoor’s latest release ‘O’Romeo’, hailing the actor for his performance in the romantic drama.

Taking to his X handle, Hrithik penned a short note appreciating Shahid’s portrayal in the film and urged audiences to watch it in theatres.

“The quirkiness of #ORomeo eventually wins you over. I had fun. @shahidkapoor you do this genre BEST. Too good you are. Go watch it in the theatres guys. Also that running in circles action was brilliant,” he wrote.

Shahid was quick to respond to Hrithik’s praise, recalling how he was deeply inspired after watching Hrithik’s debut film during his college days.

“Brother saw you debut like a boss when I was still in college and you hit me like lightning. Been loving you since your first. This feels special. Big love so happy you enjoyed the film,” Shahid wrote on X.

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and presented by Sajid Nadiadwala, O Romeo stars Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in lead roles. The film was released during Valentine’s Week.

Apart from the lead pair, the film also features Disha Patani, Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, Farida Jalal, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Aruna Irani, Hussain Dalal, Resh Lamba, and Rahul Deshpande in pivotal roles.

A day before the film’s theatrical release, Bhardwaj shared an emotional note on Instagram expressing immense pride in the project. Referring to his heads of department as the “real heroes,” he thanked his team for their “vision, integrity, sweat, blood, and unconditional commitment.” (ANI)

The snow-covered hill resort of Kufri, located about 20 km from Shimla, is witnessing a steady influx of tourists this winter, bringing cheer to local tourism stakeholders despite a gradual reduction in snowfall in recent days.

Although snow-based adventure activities have slowed due to thinning snow cover, visitors continue to arrive and enjoy the scenic landscapes, viewpoints and orchard trails. Local tourism operators, including guides, taxi drivers, hoteliers and horse owners, said this year’s snowfall significantly boosted their income after a gap of several years.

According to tourism stakeholders, Kufri typically receives 3-5 lakh visitors during the peak snowfall season (December-February), with weekends and fresh snowfall spells drawing the highest footfall. The surge benefits nearly all sectors linked to the local tourism economy, from transport operators and hotels to eateries, equipment renters and around 1,000 horse owners who ferry tourists to upper snow points such as Mahasu Peak.

A group of nine young women visiting from Karnataka shared their excitement about witnessing snow for the first time.

“We are a group of nine girls from Karnataka. When we reached Kufri, we really enjoyed seeing the snow. We came up here on horseback, and there are many viewpoints at the top. Visiting the apple garden was fun. The people here are very good, the climate is pleasant, and the locals are humble. We work in the IT sector, and visiting such snow locations in Himachal really refreshes the mind,” a tourist from Karnataka told ANI.

Local horse operators said good snowfall earlier in the season helped them earn better revenue.

Sandeep Chandel, a local horse operator, said that this year, due to good snowfall, they had a good business.

“Business has been good this time due to heavy snowfall. Snow arrived a bit late, but after three to four years, we saw such a good accumulation of around three to four feet initially. Even now, there is about one to one-and-a-half feet of snow in the upper areas. Tourists are enjoying horse rides. Nearly 1,000 horses are engaged in the business here. We appeal to tourists to visit; about two to two-and-a-half kilometres uphill at Mahasu, visitors can still enjoy good snow even though the lower ground has less,” Chandel told ANI.

Some tourists expressed mild disappointment over reduced snow compared to promotional images, but said the overall experience remained enjoyable.

“It is good here, but the snowfall is moderate. The snow is not as much as shown in the photos by travel agents. Visitors should come with proper guidance from a good travel team because snow is slightly less these days,” a tourist from Mumbai said while speaking with ANI.

Despite fluctuating snow levels, Kufri continues to attract visitors seeking winter scenery and leisure activities. The steady tourist flow has helped sustain the local economy, providing seasonal employment and income to hundreds of families associated with transport, hospitality, guiding services and snow-related recreation.

Stakeholders are optimistic that further snowfall spells and weekend tourist traffic will continue to support business through the remainder of the winter season. (ANI)

A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district on Friday awarded a death sentence to two accused, Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati, for the various offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the above act.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Trial Court also ordered the government to award compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each victim. The Court further ordered to distribute the cash amount seized from the house of the accused persons among the victims in equal proportion, a press release issued by the CBI said.

The CBI registered the case on October 31, 2020, against accused Rambhawan and other unknown persons on allegations of sexual abuse of children, using children for pornographic purposes, and creation and dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) over the internet.

“During the investigation of the case, it surfaced that the accused persons had committed various forms of perversity, which included aggravated penetrative sexual assaults against 33 young boys, some of them as young as three years of age,” the release read.

“Investigation also revealed that some of the victims had suffered injuries to their private parts during penetrative sexual assault. Some of them have remained admitted to the hospital. A few of the victims developed Squint Eye. Victims are still suffering from psychological trauma caused by the predators,” it further read.

The predators remained active in the general area of Banda and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh between 2010 and 2020. The accused Rambhawan was working as a Junior Engineer in the Department of Irrigation. The accused used to apply different forms of modus operandi on children, including access to online video games and giving money/gifts to allure them.

As per CBI, the investigation remained sensitive towards the minor victims while conducting their examinations and ensured their emotional well-being through counselling.

After the conclusion of the investigation, CBI filed a chargesheet on October 10, 021 against the accused. The CBI framed the charges on May 26th, 2023.

While awarding the severest punishment, the court found the criminal acts of the accused to be “rarest of rare” based on unparalleled depravity and systemic nature of their crimes, which involved the orchestrated sexual exploitation and abuse of 33 minor children.

According to CBI, the sheer scale of this victimisation across multiple districts, combined with the extreme moral turpitude of the convicts, marks this as a crime of such an exceptional and heinous nature that it leaves no room for reformation, necessitating the ultimate judicial deterrent to meet the ends of justice. (ANI)

Actor Rajkummar Rao extended heartfelt birthday wishes to his wife Patralekhaa, describing her as the “best partner.”

Taking to his Instagram handle, Rajkummar shared a series of pictures of Patralekhaa along with a few cherished moments of the two together. The actor penned an emotional note expressing his love and gratitude for his wife.

“Happy birthday my love. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are the heart of our home. Parvati and I are so lucky to have you in our life. The best partner, the best mother and the best daughter. Here’s to your dreams, your strength and the most incredible woman you are. Happy birthday. God bless you @patralekhaa,” he wrote.

Soon after he shared the post, several members of the film fraternity took to the comments section to extend their wishes to Patralekhaa.

Tahira Kashyap, Aparshakti Khurana, Dia Mirza, Bhumi Pednekkar, Soha Ali Khan, and Katrina Kaif shared their greetings in the comment section.

Rajkummar and Patralekhaa tied the knot on November 15, 2021, in an intimate ceremony in Chandigarh attended by close friends and family members. The couple first shared screen space in the 2014 film ‘CityLights’, which marked Patralekhaa’s Bollywood debut.

The duo embraced parenthood last year with the birth of their baby girl, Parvati Paul Rao, in November. They announced the arrival of their daughter on their fourth wedding anniversary on November 15.

On the professional front, Rajkumar will next be seen in ‘Nikam’, a film based on the life of noted public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. ‘Stree’ actor wrapped up the shooting for the project in November last year.

Apart from acting, the actor is also busy working as a producer. A few months ago, Rajkummar and his wife Patralekhaa launched their own production house, KAMPA Film. (ANI)

The Tibetans in-exile held condolence prayers for Tenzin Choegyal, also known as Ngari Rinpoche, who passed away at the age of 80 in his residence in Dharamshala on February 17.

Choegyal was the youngest brother of the Dalai Lama and was cremated here yesterday.

Several thousand Tibetans gathered at the main Tibetan temple, Tsuglagkhang in Dharamshala to attend the prayer service on Friday. Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) organised the prayer service today.

Choegyal has worked a lot for the preservation of Tibetan religion and culture and also for the political aspirations of the Tibetan people. He was born in Lhasa in 1946 and after China’s invasion in Tibet in 1959, he accompanied the Dalai Lama into exile in India.

Tsering Chomphel, the President of Tibetan Youth Congress told ANI, “It’s very unfortunate that we lost our beloved and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s youngest brother Tenzin Choegyal also known as Ngari Rinpoche, so we are holding this prayer service as on 17th of February he passed away at his residence in Dharamshala and his cremation was held yesterday. He was also the former president of Tibetan Youth Congress and former member of Tibetan parliament in-exile. We are holding this prayer to commemorate his work for the Tibetan community as he served the Tibetan community for a long time.”

One of his brothers, Taktser Rinpoche had already passed away in United States and the second oldest brother of the Dalai Lama, Gyalo Thondud had also passed away at the age of 97 in West Bengal in February 2025.

The Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) has seven siblings and he is the fourth child in his family. Dalai Lama and his younger sister Jestun Pema are presently residing in Dharamshala. (ANI)

On the opening day of Ramazan, Rawalpindi descended into traffic mayhem and price shock, leaving citizens grappling with mismanagement and inflation, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, the city’s traffic system virtually collapsed during school rush hours in the morning and again in the crucial pre-iftar period between 4 pm and 6 pm. Key arteries, particularly Murree Road from Marir Chowk to Chandni Chowk, were clogged, with vehicles inching forward at a snail’s pace.

The congestion extended across major commercial and residential zones, including Raja Bazaar, Ganjmandi Road, Liaquat Road, City Saddar Road and several densely populated marketplaces. Areas packed with temporary iftar stalls selling food items became severe choke points, leaving barely enough room for vehicles to pass. Many families reportedly had to break their fast while stranded in traffic.

Frustrated commuters alleged that traffic wardens focused more on penalising motorcyclists than managing the flow of vehicles. Citizens claimed that even minor violations resulted in fines of Rs 2,000, with motorcycles briefly confiscated, actions they said worsened congestion instead of easing it. However, a Traffic Police spokesperson stated that officials had worked diligently to maintain order throughout the day, as cited by The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, the economic burden added to public distress. The first iftar of Ramazan was marked by sharp price hikes in fruits and vegetables. Bananas were sold at Rs 300 per dozen, while kinnow and oranges fetched between Rs 350 and Rs 400 per dozen.

Apples ranged from Rs 250 to Rs 400 per kilogram, strawberries soared to Rs 1,000 per kilogram, and grapes and pomegranates were priced at Rs 700 and Rs 750 per kilogram, respectively. Residents described the sudden surge as an “inflation bomb,” saying that the holy month began under the shadow of administrative inefficiency and mounting financial strain, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)

The Delhi High Court has granted regular bail to a man arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in a case arising out of a fatal road accident in the Chanakyapuri area of the national capital.

Justice Manoj Jain passed the order on February 19, 2026, allowing the bail plea of Aashish Bachchas in FIR registered at Police Station Chanakyapuri under Sections 20,21,22,25,29 of the NDPS Act, along with offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The case dates back to August 10, 2025, when an accident allegedly involving a Mahindra Thar vehicle led to the death of two persons.

The applicant was stated to be driving the vehicle at the time of the incident. When the police reached the spot, they allegedly recovered a laptop bag from the vehicle, which, upon checking, was found to contain 21.26 grams of ganja, 15.49 grams of tobacco, 0.30 grams of cocaine, 4.17 grams of charas, 23.47 grams of MD and 2.6 grams of LSD.

During interrogation, the applicant allegedly disclosed the names of persons from whom he had procured the contraband. His police custody remand was obtained, and, as per the prosecution, one such person has already been arrested in connection with the case.

Appearing for the applicant, Advocates Ujwal Ghai, Bhanu Malhotra and Rishabh Atri argued that there was no clarity as to whether the substance allegedly recovered as LSD was, in fact, LSD.

They pointed out that even the Trial Court, in its order dated December 26, 2025, had observed that there was no explanation from the investigating agency as to why the suspicious substance was not tested immediately and had held that there was no prima facie material at that stage to conclude that the substance was LSD.

The defence further submitted that the quantities of ganja, cocaine and charas fall within the category of small quantity, while MD is of intermediate quantity. It was also highlighted that the applicant is in his twenties, in the prime of his youth, and has no previous criminal antecedents.

Opposing the bail plea, the State contended that there was conscious recovery of multiple contraband substances and that since the Forensic Science Laboratory report is still awaited, it cannot be presumed at this stage that the recovered substance was not LSD. However, the prosecution did admit that the other substances fall within the category of small or intermediate quantities.

The Court perused the nominal roll, which revealed that the applicant has no previous involvement in any other criminal case. It also noted that the charge sheet has already been filed and the matter is listed for consideration on the charge on April 8, 2026.

Keeping in view the overall facts and circumstances, particularly the young age of the applicant and his clean antecedents, the High Court directed that he be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of ₹25,000 with one surety of the like amount, subject to the satisfaction of the Trial Court. (ANI)