Month: February 2026

Saif Ali Khan is set to star in a period drama highlighting the behind-the-scenes story of India’s first election. It also stars Pratik Gandhi in the lead role and is titled ‘Hum Hindustani.’

According to the official logline from the makers: “In newly independent India, a team of officials battles chaos, resistance, and impossible odds to deliver the nation’s very first democratic election — inspired by true events.”

The film is written and directed by Rahul Dholakia and is produced by Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani & Nikkhil Advani. The makers have shared the first look at the movie.

Set during the period of 1950, at first glance, Saif Ali Khan was seen advocating the need for universal adult suffrage to conduct the first election in India. He faces resistance from the India monarchs. Pratik Gandhi plays an Indian cop in the film who is determined to ensure that India’s first election proceeds without violence.

Netflix India shared the teaser on their Instagram handle today.

At the Netflix India slate announcement event, Saif Ali Khan recalled his association with the streaming platform for the superhit series Sacred Games. He also shared updates regarding his next project with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.

“Netflix and I started off 10 years ago with Sacred Games. It has always stood for high quality. It’s always been really interesting to be associated with Netflix. Hum Hindustani is an exciting story. Looking forward to more. I have shot for another movie for Netflix. It’s called Kartavya. It’s produced by Shah Rukh’s company, Red Chillies Entertainment

Meanwhile, as per the team of the upcoming film states, “At the heart of Hum Hindustani lies one of the most defining promises of a newly independent India- the right to vote. Telling the story of the country’s first democratic election through the eyes of those on the ground has been both a responsibility and a privilege. It is a story of belief, courage and collective effort that shaped the nation we know today. We are immensely proud to bring Rahul Dholakia’s vision to Netflix and to present this landmark chapter of Indian history with the scale and ambition it deserves, for audiences in India and far beyond,” as per the press note.

The film will stream on Netflix. (ANI)

National Working President of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Praful Patel on Tuesday clarified that he is not in the running for the NCP national president position, emphasising that the party will follow a democratic process to decide on the leadership.

He also expressed disappointment at misleading statements about the party’s internal matters following Ajit Pawar’s demise on January 28, 2026 in a plane crash at Baramati.

“Today, in my capacity as the National Working President, I am responsibly ensuring the transition after Ajit Pawar. Who will become what, when, and how; that responsibility lies with me, and I am fulfilling it. We are one party, but it has two parts: the legislative part and the organisational party structure. We have completed the legislative part. What remains is the party organisation. However, regarding the party and about me personally, misleading and contradictory statements have started coming out, which are completely baseless. Now, tell me, when I am the National Working President of the party, whose responsibility is it to carry out this entire process? It is mine. At the national level, this responsibility rests with me, and at the state level, it is Sunil Tatkare’s responsibility. Just as we respected everyone’s sentiments while making decisions regarding Sunetra ji, we will do the same for the party, and everything will be done strictly in accordance with established procedures. Despite this, some people are making absurd and irresponsible statements. There are even some individuals who have never participated in political or electoral processes, who have not secured even a single vote in their lives, yet they are making statements about us,” said Patel while addressing a press conference.

Patel strongly denied reports that he was appointed the National President of the NCP following the death of Ajit Pawar. He labelled these reports as “totally baseless” and “lacking any truth.”

“I have worked as the National Working President in both the Nationalist Congress Party under the leadership of Sharad Pawar and the NCP under the leadership of Ajit Pawar, and I am continuing in that role even today. Following Ajit Dada’s passing, it’s with deep sorrow that I note misleading and contradictory statements about me are being made across various platforms and by individuals, including those with no association with our party,” he said.

Sunetra Pawar, the wife of the late Ajit Pawar, for a key role in the party. She has assumed the role of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and has been appointed guardian minister for the Beed and Pune districts, roles previously held by her husband.

Addressing concerns over her, Patel said, “We elected Sunetra ji as the leader of the legislature party, and on the same day, she was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. This decision has been subject to various statements from some people, which is deeply unfortunate. Who will be our party leader is an internal matter. Considering public sentiment and the feelings of our MLAs, we collectively decided to appoint Sunetra ji as Deputy Chief Minister.”

“The important point is that we first elected Sunetra ji as the leader of the legislature party, and on the very same day, she was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. Even our decision has been subject to various statements from some people, which is deeply unfortunate. Who our party leader will be is an internal matter for our party. Keeping in mind public sentiment and the feelings of our MLAs, all of us collectively decided to appoint Sunetra ji as the Deputy Chief Minister,” he added.

Patel further questioned others’ discomfort with this decision. “Some people are questioning why others are facing discomfort over this decision, saying it was done in haste or it was a time of mourning. That’s their personal matter,” he added.

“Whether it is Raj Thackeray or someone speaking on a 9 a.m. news bulletin, do they get to decide matters of our party? We will make decisions for our party, and we are in the process of doing so. Following Ajit Dada’s passing, I am writing with deep sorrow to report that misleading and contradictory statements about me are being made across various platforms by individuals with no association with our party,” said Patel.

He further added that all senior NCP leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal, himself, Dilip Walse Patil, and Sunil Tatkare, met Sunetra ji and her two sons, conveyed condolences, and assured them that the Nationalist Congress Party stands with their family.

“She showed great maturity and said that Ajit Dada himself never liked to stop his belief that life must go on. We are deeply saddened by Dada’s passing, but she respected our appeal and accepted our request. She then came to Mumbai and took the oath of office. Everything that has happened is an internal matter for our party, but the unnecessary statements from outsiders in this matter are incomprehensible,” he added.

Patel emphasised that the party’s decisions are internal matters and will be made in accordance with established procedures, adding that the decision on the party president will be made by the right person and will occur without his participation.

“I am sitting here before you today as an elected representative of the people of Maharashtra, and the party’s decisions will be taken in the most appropriate manner, strictly following due process. Only a suitable and capable person will be chosen apart from me… what more can I say? Our party is strong. We will take the right decisions for our party and will choose the right person. I have also given you a hint about who will become the National President, it will be a deserving and capable individual apart from me,” he added.

Patel further said that the party is focused on settling internal matters before considering a merger with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction.

“As far as a merger is concerned, first we will settle all internal party matters and then think about other things. That issue is not before us today. Right now, the issue before us is who will lead our legislative wing, which has already been decided and who will lead the party organisation. That process is currently underway,” he added. (ANI)

The Delhi High Court has permitted IRS officer Sameer Wankhede to take his defamation lawsuit against a Netflix show referencing the Aryan Khan case to a Mumbai court, after holding that the national capital court lacks territorial jurisdiction.

The matter came up before Justice Vikas Mahajan, who allowed Wankhede’s application seeking liberty to present his plaint before a competent court in Mumbai. The court asked the parties to appear before the Mumbai court on February 12, when Wankhede proposes to institute the suit.

During the hearing, counsel for Wankhede informed the court about the January 29 ruling of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, by which the plaint had been returned under the Civil Procedure Code, granting him permission to approach the appropriate forum. Acting on that liberty, Wankhede moved an application under Order VII Rule 10A CPC to facilitate the transfer of the case to Mumbai.

Allowing the request, the court observed that procedural requirements had been met and formally cleared the way for the suit to be pursued before the City Civil Court.

Wankhede had approached the Delhi High Court alleging that a character shown in Episode 1 of the Netflix series ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and streamed on Netflix was a thinly veiled and defamatory portrayal of him. The series is linked to events surrounding the Aryan Khan drugs case.

He sought directions for removal or restraint on certain scenes, contending that the depiction damaged his reputation and dignity. According to Wankhede, the character’s appearance, conduct, and mannerisms bore an unmistakable resemblance to him and had been widely identified as such in media reports.

The defendants, however, raised a preliminary objection on territorial jurisdiction, arguing that the suit ought to have been filed in Mumbai since Wankhede resides there and Red Chillies Entertainment’s registered office is also located in the city. They further maintained that the series is a fictional and satirical work and does not recreate the Cordelia cruise raid.

Accepting these submissions, Justice Kaurav had earlier ruled that the Delhi High Court could not entertain the suit and ordered the plaint to be returned. With Monday’s order, that decision has now been procedurally operationalised, enabling Wankhede to continue his legal challenge in Mumbai. (ANI)

All India Muslim Jamaat (AIMJ) national president Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi on Tuesday urged the Central and state governments to declare the cow as the national animal.

He said that granting national animal status to the cow would strengthen social harmony. From an Islamic perspective, he stated that cow’s milk has healing properties and is beneficial for health, whereas consuming beef can lead to illness.

“Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has released the poster for a film titled ‘Godaan’. This poster and this film are related to cows. It likely contains stories concerning the preservation, protection, and safety of cows. I demand that the Uttar Pradesh government and the Government of India declared cow as the national animal. If the cow is declared the national animal, many problems will end. If you go through the pages of history, you will find many controversies surrounding cows. Therefore, once the cow is declared the national animal, these problems will end,” Maulana Razvi told ANI.

He advised Muslims not to eat cow meat and focus on raising cows to benefit from their milk.

“Let me offer an Islamic perspective. According to a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), there is disease in the meat of a cow and healing (Shifa) in its milk. The Prophet’s intention and perspective were that the cow should be protected, served, and preserved, that its meat should not be consumed, but rather, one should benefit from its milk. Consume it yourself, and provide it to your family, your children, and the sick so they may recover. I appeal to all Muslims: Raise cows and do not eat cow meat. Drink cow’s milk yourself, give it to your children, and give it to the sick for their well-being,” he added.

He also appealed to Muslims to adopt and raise cows, promoting peace, health, and social harmony. (ANI)

The official Hindi teaser of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ dropped on Tuesday, setting the tone for a darker and more violent sequel to the 2025 blockbuster.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film is positioned as a high-stakes continuation that expands the franchise’s espionage-driven universe.

Running for approximately 1 minute and 12 seconds, the teaser opens with a relentless, blood-soaked action montage that underscores the psychological and physical transformation of Jaskirat Singh Rangi into the spy Hamza Ali Mazari.

The visuals suggest a far grimmer narrative, leaning heavily into stylised brutality and covert warfare.

A standout moment arrives at the end of the teaser with a reworked version of the iconic Uri dialogue: “Yeh Naya Hindustan hai, yeh ghar mein ghusega bhi aur marega bhi” (“This is the new India; it will enter your home and kill you”).

Ranveer Singh appears in a clean-shaven avatar, the same look briefly teased at the conclusion of the first film.

The teaser also hints at extensive flashback sequences, tracing Hamza’s origin story and his journey into becoming a lethal undercover operative in Karachi.

Glimpses of returning cast members Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and R. Madhavan are featured, with Madhavan expected to play a more substantial role this time.

Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, with T-Series taking over as the music label, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ is slated for a pan-India theatrical release on March 19, 2026, coinciding with Eid, Gudi Padwa and Ugadi.

It will release in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. (ANI)

An avalanche struck near the Snow Gallery at the North Portal of the Atal Tunnel in the Lahaul Sub-Division on Tuesday, leading to the blockage of National Highway-03 (NH-03).

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) stated that the avalanche occurred in the vicinity of the Atal Tunnel’s North Portal, disrupting vehicular movement on the key highway that connects Lahaul-Spiti with other parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Following the avalanche, NH-03 was blocked. The restoration and clearance operations were immediately initiated by road maintenance teams.

Further Details are awaited.

Earlier, on January 28, the holy town of Kedarnath in Uttarakhand experienced extreme winter conditions, with heavy snowfall and severe cold weather impacting the region.

The Rudraprayag district administration told ANI that continuous snowfall in the higher Himalayan regions had completely blanketed the Kedarnath shrine, the abode of Baba Kedar. Officials said that approximately 3 to 4 feet of snow accumulated at the temple premises, while temperatures plunged to as low as minus 16 degrees Celsius.

Despite the harsh weather conditions, personnel from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Rudraprayag Police carried out continuous patrols in and around the temple premises and other sensitive locations to ensure safety and security.

Even in extreme cold and icy winds, the forces conducted continuous patrols within and around the temple premises and other sensitive areas.

Hence, in view of the possibility of snowfall and avalanches in the high-altitude regions of Uttarakhand, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) issues an alert to all districts. (ANI)

Stand-up comedian Zakir Khan is set to bring his record-breaking ‘Papa Yaar’ tour to Mumbai with two mega stadium shows at the NSCI Dome on June 13 and 14, 2026.

The ‘Papa Yaar’ tour has spanned over 60 cities across the country.

Speaking about the Mumbai shows, Zakir Khan said the city holds a special place in his heart and ending the tour at the NSCI Dome feels like a homecoming. He added that the event will be more than just a show and will celebrate fans and the comedy fraternity who have been part of his journey.

“Mumbai has given me so much warmth and love- ending ‘Papa Yaar’ in NSCI Dome, Mumbai truly feels like coming home. This one isn’t just going to be a show; it’ll be a celebration of all the fans and the entire comedy fraternity, everyone who has been part of this journey,” he said, as per a press release.

The Mumbai leg marks Zakir Khan’s first-ever stadium-scale stand-up performances in the city and a significant milestone in Indian live comedy.

Shoven Shah, Founder and CEO, TribeVibe Entertainment said in a statement, “After a historic nationwide run, bringing ‘Papa Yaar’ to a venue like the NSCI Dome is a natural evolution for the tour. Indian audiences have embraced live comedy with remarkable enthusiasm and we’re excited to deliver a stadium-scale experience that matches that energy. With landmark shows featuring Zakir Khan, we’re not just creating events, we’re setting new benchmarks in modern Indian entertainment.” General ticket sales will open on February 11, 2026, with tickets available on BookMyShow.

Earlier, on January 20, Zakir Khan announced a long break from live tours during his Hyderabad show. According to Zakir Khan’s team, the stand-up comedian has announced a long break from his live shows, reportedly until 2030, citing health issues and personal matters.

The comedian also shared a story on his Instagram handle, hinting at the hiatus. After arriving in Dubai, he posted an update with a caption confirming the decision’s finality.He wrote, “Every show is a celebration till June 20. I won’t be able to come to many cities this time, so please make a little extra effort and come to the shows. Thank you for all the love.”

Zakir Khan first rose to fame in 2012 after winning Comedy Central’s “India’s Best Stand-Up” competition. Since then, he has built a massive fan base both in India and abroad with his stand-up specials like ‘Haq Se Single’, Kaksha Gyarvi’ and others. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma in cases registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Economic Offences Wing (EoW) in connection with the alleged liquor scam.

A Bench led by the Chief Justice of India held that, although the allegations are serious and the investigation is complex and ongoing, prolonged custody of the petitioner would raise concerns regarding personal liberty. The Court said the competing claims of the prosecution and the accused must be balanced.

“On one hand is the right of the prosecution to have an uninterrupted, fair and free right to pursue the investigation, and on the other hand is the right of the petitioner to seek liberty. In order to balance the competitive claims asserted by both sides, we deem it appropriate to grant interim bail at this stage,” the Court said.

Granting interim bail in both ED and EoW cases, the Court imposed strict conditions. Lakhma has been directed not to enter the State of Chhattisgarh except to attend court proceedings and must arrive at least one day prior to the hearing. He will not be granted an exemption from personal appearance except on health grounds.

The Court also directed that Lakhma shall not travel abroad, must deposit his passport with the special court, and shall furnish his mobile number to the ED, which cannot be changed without informing the trial court. He has been permitted to participate in public events but restrained from making any statement regarding the allegations against him.

On a request seeking permission to attend Assembly proceedings, the Court said that since the chargesheet has been filed and cognisance is yet to be taken, the issue may be decided by the Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.

The Court was hearing a plea filed by Lakhma challenging his continued custody in connection with the alleged liquor scam. Lakhma was arrested by the ED in January 2025 and later by the EoW in April 2025.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Lakhma, submitted that the investigation against the petitioner is substantially complete and multiple chargesheets have already been filed. He pointed out that there are 52 accused, of whom 19 have already been granted bail, while several others were chargesheeted without arrest. Rohatgi argued that there is no recovery or direct money trail linking Lakhma to the alleged proceeds of crime.

Opposing the plea, Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED and the State, contended that the offence is grave and has caused massive loss to the state exchequer. The agencies relied on documentary, digital and forensic evidence and submitted that the investigation is still underway.

The Court, however, noted that the prosecution proposes to examine 117 witnesses in the ED case, 863 witnesses in the EOW case and that the scale of the case suggests the trial and investigation will take considerable time, which warrants interim relief to protect the petitioner’s liberty. (ANI)

Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday claimed that the India-US trade agreement was signed to benefit Gautam Adani, the Chairperson of the Adani Group.

He also alleged that the deal compromises national interest and farmers’ welfare. The deal reduces US tariffs on Indian goods by18%, benefiting sectors like textiles, pharmaceuticals, and engineering.

Speaking to the reporters outside Parliament, Sanjay Raut said, “The entire Opposition walked out of Rajya Sabha. National interests and farmers’ interests were compromised. I feel that this trade deal has been signed to safeguard Gautam Adani, and we will protest against this from the streets to Parliament.”

Echoing similar concerns, Arvind Sawant questioned the government’s economic priorities, pointing to the Union Budget. “Have you seen your own budget? In that budget, you have imposed zero per cent duty. All items are coming from America. America imposes 10% tax on Pakistan, it used to impose 3% tax on us,” he said.

In a social media post today, US President Donald Trump said that both countries agreed to a trade deal under which the US will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also, in a social media post, announced that Made in India products will now have a reduced US tariff of 18% and extended “big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement.”

Earlier, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “selling out” Indian farmers under US pressure.

Speaking to the reporters outside the parliament, Rahul Gandhi said, “Modi ji is rattled. The (US-India) trade deal, which was stalled for the past few months, was signed by Narendra Modi last night. There is extreme pressure on him. Narendra Modi ji’s image can get damaged. The main thing is that our PM is compromised. The public needs to think about this. For the first time, the LoP was not allowed to speak on the President’s speech.”

The opposition raised concerns about potential impacts on Indian agriculture and dairy farmers, with some warning of significant losses. Meanwhile, the government maintained that the deal would boost exports and economic growth, but opposition parties are pushing for more transparency and scrutiny.

“Narendra Modi ji has sold your hard work in this trade deal because he is compromised. He has sold the country. Narendra Modi ji is scared because those who shaped his image are now breaking this image,” he added. When asked why the LoP believe PM Modi is “compromised,” Rahul Gandhi cited the alleged case against the Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, in the US and the Epstein files.

“There is a case on Adani ji in the US; it is actually a case on Modi ji. The Epstein Files contain even more that the US has not yet released. There is pressure due to that as well. These are the two pressure points. The country should understand this,” he said. (ANI)

Eight opposition members were suspended from Lok Sabha on Tuesday for the remainder of the budget session for violating rules and “throwing papers on the chair” following uproar in the House over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on mentioning a specific reference about the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh in 2020.

The House, which witnessed two adjournments earlier in the day, resumed proceedings at 3 pm and Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition, said that he would not refer to any magazine article about former Army Chief Gen MM Naravane’s memoirs but make comments about Chinese action during the Kaislash Range standoff with China and the government’s response.

The government has said that Rahul Gandhi cannot quote from an unpublished memoir or a magazine article based on it.

The Chair asked Rahul Gandhi to resume his speech on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address and follow the ruling already given.

As Rahul Gandhi insisted on making his intended remarks, the Chair called other members to speak ion he motion of thanks to the President’s Address. Congress and opposition members resorted to sloganeering, which intensified after a TDP member started making his speech.

Amid uproar, some members were seen throwing papers. The House was adjourned till 3 pm.

When the House resumed its proceedings, BJP member Dilip Saikia, who was in the Chair, named eight opposition members.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the motion for suspension of the eight members for the remainder of the budget session for “violating rules and throwing papers on the chair”

The motion was adopted by the House amid protests from the opposition members.

The opposition MPs who have been suspended for the remainder of the session are Congress members Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Dean Kuriakose and CPI-M member S Venkatesan.

The Lok Sabha saw repeated adjournments yesterday also on the stalemate over Rahul Gandhi’s attempts to make references to the magazine article. (ANI)