Month: February 2026

Over the past few days, social media has been flooded with speculation that Hrithik Roshan has replaced Ranveer Singh in Don 3.

Putting the rumours to rest, Hrithik, on Friday, via a statement, clarified that there’s no truth to the reports as he “was never approached for the film”

“What started off as just a rumour has now taken on an entire life of its own, and it’s important to set the record straight. I would like to categorically clarify that I was never approached for Don 3 at any given time. Requesting media to steer clear of any such unverified reports,” the statement read.

In August 2023, Farhan had, in a special announcement video, revealed that Ranveer Singh will be the new Don in the third film of the hit franchise.

In the teaser, Ranveer was seen seated in a building with his back to the camera. He lit up a cigarette, introduced himself as Don, and then turned to face the camera.

Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan played the character in the earlier versions.

Reportedly, things did not go well between Ranveer Singh and Excel Entertainment, especially after the Dhurandhar star walked out of Don 3. However, neither Ranveer nor Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani have publicly addressed the issue so far.

It now remains to be seen who will step into the lead role in Don 3 or whether Ranveer and Excel Entertainment will resolve their differences and move ahead with what was originally planned. (ANI)

The Opposition MPs on Friday staged a protest outside the Makar Dwar in the Parliament House complex while demanding the resignation of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who is under fire after Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi questioned his links with the infamous Jeffrey Epstein.

MPs from across the opposition parties held placards reading “Who’s grip, who’s choke” during the demonstration.

This comes after Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday, claimed he has verified information linking Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to the recently released Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.

Addressing reporters, the Rae Bareli MP questioned why Ambani, whose name reportedly appeared in the Epstein-related files, has not been jailed. “I have said that I will authenticate the data I have. There are Department of Justice files on Epstein naming Hardeep Puri and Anil Ambani.”

He further claimed that there was pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-US nuclear deal and criticised the government’s handling of sensitive issues.

Responding to Gandhi’s remarks, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri hit back at Rae Bareli MP and dismissed the allegations as baseless, describing them as “elements of buffoonery” and having “entertainment value.”

Later that day, soon after Gandhi’s remarks, Puri addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters. Puri criticised Gandhi for walking out of the Lok Sabha after delivering his speech.

“We have a youth leader (Rahul Gandhi) who placed a few things before the Parliament today. He has a habit of making baseless allegations. There are two kinds of leaders: those who assume responsibility in the political system and dedicate their lives to social service, transforming the country, and those who devote their lives and ensure that, during their lifetime, the country moves from the 10th-largest economy to the 3rd-largest,” Puri said.

Mocking Gandhi, the Union Minister added, “What Rahul Gandhi does has a lot of entertainment value! On one hand, you have leaders who dedicate their lives to transforming the country and work around the clock, and then you have elements of buffoonery.”

Puri clarified that any contact he had with Epstein was limited to official interactions over eight years and had no connection to the sexual abuse allegations.

“These facts are known in the public domain. Three million emails have been released. I was in New York for eight years, from May 2009, when I was appointed India’s Ambassador to the UN. In 2017, I became Minister. There are references to possibly three or four meetings in eight years. Any contact I had with him has no connection to the serious allegations of sexual abuse filed by victims,” he explained. (ANI)

Farhan Akhtar is set to portray Bharat Ratna awardee and legendary Indian musician Pandit Ravi Shankar in director Sam Mendes’ ambitious project, ‘The Beatles- A Four-Film Cinematic Event.’

The four-part biographical series on the iconic British band has officially begun production in the UK and is slated for a global theatrical release in April 2028 under Sony Pictures, Variety has confirmed.

Akhtar joins an expanding international ensemble that includes Lucy Boynton as Jane Asher, Morfydd Clark as Cynthia Lennon and Harry Lawtey as Stuart Sutcliffe. The films will chronicle the lives of the Fab Four, with each instalment focusing on a different member of The Beatles.

Akhtar, known for his performances in ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ and ‘The Sky Is Pink,’ as well as appearances in Marvel’s Ms. Marvel and most recently 120 Bahadur, takes on the role of Shankar, the globally celebrated sitar virtuoso who shared a deep musical association with George Harrison.

The principal cast features Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.

Additional casting includes Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, James Norton as Brian Epstein, Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono, Aimee Lou Wood as Pattie Boyd, Harry Lloyd as George Martin and Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Starkey, as per Variety.

Behind the camera, Mendes directs all four films and produces alongside his Neal Street Productions partner, Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor, with Alexandra Derbyshire also producing.

The technical team includes cinematographer Greig Fraser and editor Lee Smith, among others. Production is underway. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Tarique Rahman after the projected results showed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leading to a victory in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections.

PM Modi said the win reflects the trust of the Bangladeshi people in his leadership.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “I convey my warm congratulations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading BNP to a decisive victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. This victory shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh in your leadership.”

He added that India will continue to support a democratic and progressive Bangladesh and looks forward to strengthening bilateral ties.

“India will continue to stand in support of a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our multifaceted relations and advance our common development goals,” Prime Minister Modi wrote.

Earlier in the day, BNP said that it is set to form the government as vote counting is underway for the 13th parliamentary elections in the country.

In a post on X, the BNP Media cell said, “The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP is set to form the government after winning the majority of seats.”

Local media reports indicate that the BNP is set to secure a historic win in the elections.

According to the Daily Star, vote counting has been completed in 249 constituencies, with just 50 remaining.

Of the 299 seats, the Daily Star reported that BNP and allies have secured 181 seats, while Jamaat and allies have 61 seats.

These preliminary figures suggest a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape.

The BNP’s chairman, Tarique Rahman, has requested that the celebration of this victory be postponed out of respect for the passing of his mother, Khaleda Zia, before the election. Therefore, they have called for prayers for Khaleda Zia after the Friday congregational prayer.

Rahman has been unofficially declared elected from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after securing a decisive victory over his nearest rival, as per the Daily Star.

Bangladesh ushered in its most pivotal polls as it seeks to enter into a new chapter from the classic ‘Battle of Begums’ era on Thursday.

This election feels heavy after the demise of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ban on her nemesis, Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League. (ANI)

The Delhi Police Special Cell has questioned officials of Penguin India for two consecutive days in connection with the alleged leak of former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s book, sources said.

According to sources, the questioning continued for several hours on both days, with investigators seeking detailed information about the handling and circulation of the manuscript and its digital files. Officials indicated that representatives of the publishing house may be called again in the coming days as the probe progresses.

Sources in the Special Cell said the investigation is currently being conducted on two separate lines.

The first line of inquiry concerns the PDF version of the book that allegedly surfaced before its official release. During an examination of the available PDF file, investigators found that the field where the printer’s name is typically entered was left blank. Sources said this has led investigators to suspect that the file may have been leaked before it was sent for printing.

Police have sought detailed information from Penguin India regarding the PDF file’s movement, including the stages it went through before final printing, the number of individuals who had access to it, and whether it was shared online or offline.

Sources said the publishing house has sought time to compile the relevant data, noting that the publication process had been underway for nearly three years.

The second line of investigation relates to a hard copy of the book that was displayed by the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, in Parliament. It was also claimed that the book was available overseas and online. The Special Cell is examining the origin and circulation of that hard copy as part of its ongoing probe.

Sources further said that the Special Cell is analysing the responses submitted by Penguin India. Investigators are working to determine whether the alleged leak resulted from negligence in handling the manuscript or was part of a larger conspiracy.

Further action, sources added, will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing investigation. (ANI)

Several schools across the national capital received bomb threats on Friday morning, police said.

Delhi Police teams, along with fire department personnel, rushed to the affected locations to conduct thorough security checks.

The first call reported as a threat was received at 9:13 AM by BD Tamil Education, Jhandewalan.

More details are awaited.

Earlier, nine schools across the national capital received bomb threat emails on Monday, according to the Delhi Police.

According to the police, the threats were received through emails between 8:30 am and 9:00 am. Following the alerts, Delhi Police, fire department teams, and bomb disposal squads were immediately rushed to the affected schools.

In South Delhi, three schools received bomb threats. These include Air Force School on Lodhi Road, KR Mangalam School, and The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar.

Other schools that received bomb threat emails included Loreto Convent School in Delhi Cantt, Cambridge School in Srinivasanpuri, Venkateshwar School in Rohini, Cambridge School in New Friends Colony, CM School in Rohini, DTA School in INA, and Bal Bharati School in Rohini. (ANI)

As the vote counting process is underway, the projected voting results show the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leading in 151 constituencies in the country’s 13th parliamentary elections, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, early morning vote counting showed BNP winning 151 constituencies so far. It further mentioned that the initial trends indicated Jamaat-e-Islami would emerge as the main opposition, securing 43 seats.

Despite these early outcomes, the vote counting process is still underway, and official results have yet to be declared. These preliminary figures suggest a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, with the BNP alliance expected to surpass the halfway mark needed to form the government.

The BNP’s chairman, Tarique Rahman, has requested that the celebration of this victory be postponed out of respect for the passing of his mother, Khaleda Zia, before the election. Therefore, they have called for prayers for Khaleda Zia after the Friday congregational prayer.

Unofficial results on Friday show Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in a strong lead as Bangladesh continues to count votes after its landmark election on Thursday.

Rahman has been unofficially declared elected from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after securing a decisive victory over his nearest rival, as per the Daily Star.

According to results announced by the office of the District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Taufiqur Rahman, tallies from 150 polling centres have been completed. The constituency has a total of 151 voting centres, including postal ballots.

Official results have not yet been delivered by the Bangladesh Election Commission, which is expected to issue its announcement on Friday.

Bangladesh ushered in its most pivotal polls as it seeks to enter into a new chapter from the classic ‘Battle of Begums’ era on Thursday.

This election feels heavy after the demise of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ban on her nemesis, Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League. (ANI)

At least seven people have been killed in a tragic chain road accident early Friday morning on the outskirts of Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural district, police confirmed.

According to the police, the accident occurred near M Satyavara village on the Hoskote-Dabaspete National Highway. An XUV 700 car (KA 03 NW 0138) travelling from Hoskote towards Devanahalli first collided with a motorcycle moving ahead. The driver then lost control and crashed into a Canter vehicle.

Another car became involved in the ensuing chaos, resulting in a severe chain collision involving two cars, a canter, and a motorcycle.

Six occupants of the XUV car and the motorcycle rider died on the spot. The deceased are suspected to be residents of Kothanur, Bengaluru, though their identities are yet to be confirmed.

The bodies have been shifted to Hoskote Government Hospital. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.

More details are awaited. (ANI)

Over the past three years, veteran actor Sunny Deol has been on a remarkable streak. First, Gadar 2 became a blockbuster, followed by Jaat, which delivered a decent box-office performance, and now Border 2 is racking up impressive collections.

On Thursday, at the Border 2 success press conference, Sunny expressed gratitude to his fans for their love and continued support.

When one of the reporters praised Sunny’s remarkable return to the spotlight, addressing him as Sunny Deol 2.0, Sunny quipped, “Itne saal pata nahi kahan chupa hua tha (I don’t know where I was hiding all these years.) It’s really sweet. I just want to say this to everyone — work hard, love your profession, don’t get disheartened and time is something you never know when it will come and when it will go, but you should be ready for it.)

He credited his late father, Dharmendra and God’s grace for all the success he has achieved.

“Yeh sab mere papa ki blessings and Waheguru di meher hai…The people loved me before as well, and they are loving me even today. Wherever I go, I receive so much love,” he added.

Border 2, which was released in theatres on January 23, is inspired by the true events of the 1971 India-Pakistan War and showcases how the Army, Navy, and Air Force fight together as one force. It brings Sunny Deol back in uniform once again.

The film also stars Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh in the lead roles. (ANI)

Punjabi actress-singer Shehnaaz Gill will be seen headlining a romantic drama titled ‘Ishqnama’.

On Thursday, Shehnaaz took to Instagram and unveiled the first poster of the upcoming film, which is set to be released on July 24.

The poster offers a striking glimpse into Ishqnama’s world – “a romance drama rooted in true events and unfolding against the fraught India-Pakistan backdrop,” as per press note.

In one image, Shehnaaz is seen hugging an injured Jayy Randhawa, her expression heavy with pain, resilience and devotion, capturing a love bruised by conflict yet refusing to break. In another visual, she appears in a bridal avatar, draped in the old Punjabi aesthetic, hinting at a love story shaped as much by sacrifice as by longing.

“First picture from My upcoming Movie…..”ISHQNAMA” True Story of True Lovers NIMMA-NASIMA Releasing 24th july 2026 in Cinemas worldwide @arvindrkhaira @jayyrandhawa @saurabhsachdeva77 @jaani777 @bpraak @sourabh_rana #shehnaazgill,” Shehnaaz posted on her Instagram handle.

Meanwhile, last year, Shehnaaz achieved a major milestone with the Punjabi film Ikk Kudi, marking her debut as a producer under Shehnaaz Gill Production. In 2023, she was featured alongside Salman Khan in ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’. (ANI)