Salman asks Is Madharasi Bigger hit than Sikandar ?

Tamil celebrated Director A R Murugadoss has got a reality check that was long overdue. Salman Khan gave it back to him royally for blaming him for the flop pf Sikandar. Salman interview makes a point that just by arriving on the sets at 6 AM does not make a film a hit. Secondly that ARM as a Director and Producer Sajid washed their hands off as soon as they knew it was not working. He pointed out that with a South Star that comes as early 6 AM, the film did not work. He was meaning Madharasi of Suvakarthikeyan that ended as a loss. With the film, Salman returned to the big screen for the first time since 2023 but failed to make a mark at the box office. Sikandar is Salman's first Eid release in two years. Sikandar was released in theatres on March 30. Despite receiving criticism for its direction and performances, the film managed to cross ₹100 crore at the box office and ultimately grossed over ₹200 crore worldwide. However, considering Salman Khan's standards, the film was deemed an underperformer at the box office. The film was also panned when it was released on Netflix in May. Using the popular stage of Bigg Boss 19, Salman Khan addressed the comments during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode with his signature wit, making his stance on the matter crystal clear. What Director AR Murugadoss Claimed The controversy started when director AR Murugadoss, in an interview, spoke about the challenges of working with a major Bollywood star. He claimed that Salman would often arrive on the set only by 8 PM, which forced the crew to shoot scenes meant for the daytime during the night. The director described the schedule as chaotic and hinted that the erratic timings contributed to the film’s underperformance at the box office, even while admitting his own creative faults. Salman Khan’s Sarcastic Reply On Bigg Boss Salman addressed the issue head-on when comedian Ravi Gupta asked him if he regretted doing any films. While he named some old projects, he clarified he had no regrets about his recent films, including Sikandar. He then directly took on the director’s comments with a playful but sharp jab. “Main set pe raat ke 9 baje pahuchta tha, meri pasaliyan tooti thi (I used to reach the set at 9 PM, but my ribs were fractured),” he said, giving a reason for his timing. In a sarcastic tone, Salman added, “Hamare director sahab bolte the aisa, lekin unki picture jo abhi release hui hai, uske actor to 6 baje pahuchte the.” This was a clear dig at Murugadoss’s recent Tamil film, Madharaasi, suggesting that even though its actor arrived earlier, the film still struggled to find success. The "Madharaasi" box office collection was ₹99.12 crore worldwide, with ₹62.82 crore in India and ₹25 crore overseas. The film had a strong opening but saw a significant drop in collections after the first week, failing to meet the expectations set by its hype. The actor didn’t stop there. He also remarked that both producer Sajid Nadiadwala and Murugadoss quickly distanced themselves from Sikandar after it failed to perform well at the box office. “Pehle Sajid kalti, phir Murugadoss South sidha,” he joked, implying that the team moved on quickly once the film didn’t work. To top it all off, Salman cheekily praised Murugadoss’s other film, calling Madharaasi a “bigger blockbuster than Sikandar” with a knowing smile, which drew laughs from the Bigg Boss audience.

Mega Star Mammootty Patriot in London / Dhanush- Mari Selvaraj / STR Telugu Debut

Mari Selvaraj’s next film will be with Dhanush, set under a historical backdrop, and the story was narrated to the actor a long time ago. The VIP actor was initially set to produce it himself. But now, the project will be produced by Vels Films International. The film’s work will begin soon, and they planned it as a grand, big-budget historical drama. The actor-director combination joined hands before for a sensational blockbuster, Karnan, and is set for a much bigger film next.

Producer Nag Vamsi who liked the story written by Deepak who gained recognition for his award-winning short film Manasanamaha, has narrated it to Dhanush and SK. Now we hear that Simbhu is to sign it and be his first straight Telugu film. Producer Naga Vamsi’s banner ‘Sithara Entertainments’ created a brand value for itself in Tollywood by delivering back-to-back box office hits with strong content and quality production values. A subsidiary of Haarika and Haasini Creations, which only bankrolls big-ticket films with Trivikram Srinivas, this production house started making medium and big budgeted films at a brisk pace from 2016 unlike its parent company. The production house scored a success streak with smashing blockbusters like Jersey, Bheeshma, DJ Tillu, Sir, Mad, Lucky Bhaskar and Daaku Maharaj. There is a strong line-up of films coming from this happening banner in the next couple of years. Besides securing dates of leading Telugu actors, the production house seems to be betting big on the market of Tamil stars as well. t is already a known fact that the banner is bankrolling the much anticipated bilingual project of Tamil superstar Suriya and talented Telugu director Venky Atluri. Now reports suggest that they have finalized a new film with another popular Kollywood star Simbhu. A debutant directorAlso, the same production house has already announced their upcoming collaboration with Kannada sensation Rishab Shetty. It looks like Naga Vamsi is planning to expand the brand value of his banner beyond Tollywood. In Telugu, they have Akhil’s Lenin and Ravi Teja’s Mass Jathara in the pipeline. is going to be introduced with this film and an official announcement is likely to be made very soon.

Mammootty took part in Hyderabad will be moving to London for Patriot.. London shoot behins from October 18th. After London shoot, the unit comes to Kochi where Mohanlal takes part. Zarin Shihab ( Rekjachithram- Aatam) will be part of London. Mohanlal will join the Kochi part. Mahesh Narayanan directs the film. Release Timeline: The film is slated for a Vishu 2026 release, which falls in April 2026, with a potential release date of April 9, 2026, reported by India TV News. Production Status: Filming is progressing, with the Hyderabad schedule recently completed. Mammootty has now flown to London for the next shooting segment. Key Cast: The movie boasts a major cast, including Mammootty, Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, Nayanthara, Kunchacko Boban, Darshana Rajendran, Revathy, and Zarin Shihab. Director: The film is directed by Mahesh Narayanan. Genre: It is described as a high-stakes political thriller involving power, surveillance, and state control. Mammooty's Patriot after Hyderabad schedule will move to London. Rehachithran- Aatam fame Zarin Shihab

Nivin Pauly B'Day lineup / Kantara moves to Top 2 Indian Grosser// Kerala composer for Vijay Devarakonda

As actor Nivin Pauly celebrates his birthday, fans are celebrating the promise of what looks to be a monumental phase in his career. The upcoming year is loaded with a versatile lineup that audiences have been eagerly awaiting, signaling a brilliant new era for the star. While the slate is diverse, the biggest cheer is for his foray into the fan-favorite genres he has perfected. The fun begins with Sarvam Maya, a horror-comedy for Christmas 2025 that reunites him with Aju Varghese. Following this is the highly anticipated Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, a romantic comedy from the blockbuster Premalu team. Paired with Mamitha Baiju, this is the perfect Nivin Pauly entertainer that fans have been craving. But his artistic range doesn't stop there. He will showcase his intense side in the thriller Baby Girl, hitting theatres this November. His presence in Tamil cinema is also growing stronger, with director Ram’s unique romantic psychological thriller Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai releasing soon. In a massive future leap, he will also enter the Lokesh Cinematic Universe as the villain "Walter" in the 2026 film Benz. Capping off this powerful lineup is a high-budget political thriller directed by B. Unnikrishnan and backed by Gokulam Movies. His creative expansion continues beyond the big screen. Nivin is making his much-anticipated web series debut with Pharma, an intense drama exploring the world of medical representatives. As a producer, he also backs ambitious projects like the pan-Indian superhero film Multiverse Manmadhan and the Nayanthara-starrer Dear Students under his Pauly Jr. Pictures banner. Nivin Pauly is masterfully balancing the genres he is celebrated for with bold new challenges. For his legions of fans, this birthday marks the exciting beginning of a festival of cinema.

Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 Box office data War 2 For the first week, Kantara Chapter 1 sets the milestone this year, and within 10 days, it surpasses Coolie’s full run collections and emerges as the top 3 grosser for this year in Indian movies. Tomorrow the film will cross Saiyaara and will settle at the top 2, but to reach the top 1 position, the film needs to maintain a stronghold for at least another two weeks, as Chhaava, which is in the first place, collected 800 Cr gross. Kantara Chapter 1 joined the 500 Cr grossers’ club yesterday, becoming the 4th Indian film to do so in 2025, and today, by beating Coolie’s lifetime gross (520 Cr), it became the biggest South Indian grosser this year as well. On the opening day and 1st weekend, Rajinikanth’s Coolie maintains a big lead over Kantara Chapter as it had the biggest opening and biggest weekend for Indian cinema this year. But after the weekend the film crashes, whereas the Kantara prequel maintains a strong hold.Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 Box office data War 2 For the first week, Kantara Chapter 1 sets the milestone this year, and within 10 days, it surpasses Coolie’s full run collections and emerges as the top 3 grosser for this year in Indian movies. Tomorrow the film will cross Saiyaara and will settle at the top 2, but to reach the top 1 position, the film needs to maintain a stronghold for at least another two weeks, as Chhaava, which is in the first place, collected 800 Cr gross.

Vijay Deverakonda’s new film with Ravi Kiran Kola of Raja Vaaru Rani Gaaru was formally launched with a pooja ceremony. For the first time in her career, Keerthy Suresh is sharing screen space with Vijay Deverakonda. Rowdy Janardhan is the title. According to the latest buzz on social media, Malayalam music composer Christo Xavier will make his Tollywood debut with Rowdy Janardhan. Christo Xavier is known for films like Bramayugam, Turbo, and Sookshmadarshini. An official confirmation is awaited. The project will be bankrolled by ace producer Dil Raju under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations. Apart from Rowdy Janardhan, Vijay also has a film with Rahul Sankrityan of Taxiwala fame, and the project is now in the production phase.

Divine Power made me Hero - Pradeep / Rowdy Baby with Dhanush

During the promotional event of his upcoming film Dude in the Telugu states, Tamil actor Pradeep Ranganathan was asked an uncomfortable question by a Telugu journalist, which quickly stirred debate across social media. The journalist began with a dismissive remark, saying, “Please don’t take it otherwise, but you don’t look like a film hero. You’ve achieved so much success with just two films; is this your luck?” Pradeep Ranganathan also replied gracefully, saying that apart from talent, he believes divine grace has played a role in his success. He mentioned that audiences might see themselves in his characters, which makes his films more relatable. Veteran actor Sarath Kumar, who was present at the Dude promotional event alongside Pradeep, stepped in to respond. He stated that such questions are inappropriate and emphasized that there is no fixed standard for what a hero should look like. He added that anyone whose actions benefit society can be considered a hero. The film Dude appears to follow the familiar formula seen in “Return of the Dragon”: Pradeep dating a vibrant girl, only for a past love story to surface later. In “Dragon,” Kayadu Lohar and Anupama Parameswaran played those roles, while in “Dude,” Mamitha Baiju and Neha Shetty take on similar parts. As per the latest buzz, Pradeep Ranganathan will be taking a long break of 3 to 4 months after the release of his next project, Love Insurance Kompany (LIK). Also starring Krithi Shetty in a lead role, the sci-fi romantic comedy is slated for a December 18th release. Apparently, during his 4-month-long break, Pradeep Ranganathan will be focusing on completing a script. He may also consider directing the film, apart from starring in it. The talented actor-director will discuss scripts narrated by other directors during the break. Pradeep Ranganathan has amassed a decent fan base across the twin Telugu states, and his Telugu fans are eagerly waiting for his next projects.

Actress Sai Pallavi and Dhanush were seen together in Maari 2 (2018), and their song, Rowdy Baby, is a sensational hit, and even today many fans enjoy that song. The latest news is that Dhanush and Sai Pallavi will reunite for Mari Selvaraj’s upcoming film. Mari Selvaraj’s next film, Bison, starring Dhruv Vikram, is slated for release this Diwali, and the actor signed two projects after this: one with Dhanush and the second one is the first movie of Udhay Stalin’s son Inbanithi’s debut movie.Pallavi was last seen in Thandel earlier this year and in Amaran in Tamil last year. She has Mere Raho and 2 parts of Nitish Tiwari's Ramayana in the pipeline. Dhanush, on the other hand, is fresh off the release of his fourth directorial, Idli Kadai. The actor is awaiting the release of Tere Ishk Mein, directed by his Raanjhanaa filmmaker Aanand L Rai. He is set to portray former President APJ Abdul Kalam in Kalam: The Missile Man of India, directed by Om Raut, and Ilaiyaraaja in a biopic from his Captain Miller filmmaker Arun Matheswaran. Dhanush's upcoming projects also include one film with Amaran director Rajkumar Periasamy and D54 with Vignesh Raja.

Kamal as Pinrayi - Balchandra Menon as Oomen Chandy / Beef Biryani cut out in Shane film

Shane Nigam’s much-anticipated film 'Soul of Haal' has run into a censorship crisis, with the Censor Board instructing the filmmakers to remove a scene featuring beef biryani and dialogues related to a ceremonial salute. In response, the film’s production team has approached the Kerala High Court, challenging the board’s directive. The board’s objections include the dialogue “Dhwaja Pranama, the team is on guard” and a scene depicting the consumption of beef biryani. These instructions have delayed the issuance of the censor certificate, putting the film’s release on hold. Filmmakers argue that these cuts compromise the narrative and have sought judicial intervention to resolve the issue. Directed by debutant Veer, 'Haal' was originally scheduled to release on September 12, but the date was subsequently postponed.Haal is written by Nishad K. Koya, who is known for scripting Ordinary, Thoppil Joppan, Shikari Shambu and Madhura Naranga. The film, one of the biggest budget projects in Shane Nigam’s career, features Sakshi Vaidya in the female lead role. Sakshi amade her debut with Akhil in Agent with Mammooty in a pivotal role, She also signeda Pawan Kalyan film.

The supporting cast boasts seasoned actors such as Johnny Antony, Nath, Vineeth Beep Kumar, K. Madhupal, Sangeetha Madhavan Nair, Joy Mathew, Nishant Sagar, Niyas Becker, Riyas Narmakala, Suresh Krishna, Ravindran, Sohan Seenulal, Manoj K.U., Unniraj, and Sreedhanya, promising a strong ensemble performance. 'Haal' is slated for a simultaneous release in Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada, positioning it as a colorful, multi-lingual entertainer. In addition, the film marks Bollywood singer Ankith Tiwari’s Malayalam cinema debut. The censorship row highlights the ongoing tension between creative freedom and regulatory oversight, with filmmakers urging the court to allow the film to be released without compromising its content. The High Court’s decision is eagerly awaited by fans and industry watchers alike, who have been anticipating Shane Nigam’s latest performance. As the legal proceedings unfold, the film’s release remains in limbo, intensifying anticipation for one of Malayalam cinema’s most talked-about projects of the year. --IANS

Balachandra Menon is expected to play Oommen Chandy, Nivin Pauly is likely to be cast as Chandy Oommen—the late Congress leader’s son and incumbent MLA representing Puthuppally.Noted director B. Unnikrishnan, who last worked with Mammootty in 'Christopher', is said to be at the helm of the project. According to a report by Manorama News, the film will not be presented as a biopic of Oommen Chandy, who is rated among the most popular politicians in Kerala’s history. Among the details expected to be included in the movie are the various corruption allegations that led to political uproar in the state. Earlier, there were reports that Unnikrishnan was shooting the Secretariat blockade protest organised by the CPI(M)-led LDF workers in 2013. The Opposition workers had surrounded the Kerala Secretariat in August 2013 as a part of the protest against the solar scam—a major political controversy of the time when Oommen Chandy was in power. The longest-serving member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Oommen Chandy passed away in 2023 and his son Chandy Oommen became the new MLA of Puthuppally. Nivin Pauly is expected to portray the 39-year-old's role in the movie. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP and veteran actor Kamal Haasan is reportedly getting ready for a Mollywood return by being part of a rumoured biopic of incumbent Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Manorama News report said. The way his leadership dealt with the deluge of 2018 and the Covid pandemic will be shown in the movie. A younger Vijayan’s interventions during the 1971 Thalassery riots is also expected to find a place in the film. However, it was not exactly known if Haasan will be seen as Pinarayi Vijayan in the movie which is also expected to release before the southern state goes to polling booths next year. Report in The Week News Desk

Ayyappanum Koshy in Dulquer v/s Customs / Mohanlal blocks Ajay Devgn Drishyam

For fans of the Drishyam series, October 2 is a date that needs no explanation. Everyone was eagerly waiting for the announcement teaser of Drishyam 3, starring Ajay Devgn, on this special day. However, the date came and went with no teaser, leaving fans wondering what happened. While the official reason given was a delay in background music, the real story seems to be a plot twist worthy of the film itself. The truth is that a one-minute-25-second teaser was all ready to go. The real reason for the delay is a disagreement between the Hindi film’s producer, Kumar Mangat Pathak, and the creators of the original Malayalam masterpiece, director Jeethu Joseph and producer Antony Perumbavoor. What Really Happened On October 2? According to sources, there is a special clause in the contract between the Hindi and Malayalam teams. This rule says that the Hindi team cannot make any major announcements about their film without getting permission from the original makers first. This clause reportedly came into play after the Hindi team announced their film’s release date, October 2, 2026, right after Mohanlal began shooting for the Malayalam version.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) jumps into the Dulquer car confiscation issue to save the face of Customs Commissioner by raiding the house of the actor across Chennai and Kochi. Dulquer sgares the same address with Dad Mammootty made it look like the Mega Star was involved. Customes had no answers to questions like Whhy do you need to take custody of a car that was gegistered two decades back and in use on basis of reasonable belief . The court asked why it ignored the papers that showed Dulquer having bought the car that the actor had bought the car from the previous owner and that it was not that the actor was the first owner. It is said that Dulquer wanted the Customes to release the car unconditionally as taking it in custody was illegal. The court pointed out that taking the car into custody on just reasonable basis and without any solid reason to do so was not in order but the actor should follow the procedure and ask in writing for return of car. Now customs through ED is trying to further delay the car return. Ro make matters, Customs Commissioner is under severe cyber attack from the actor and his Dad's fans. The case is turning out to be a Ayyappan Koshy kind of drama.

No Bahubali 3 / EPIC Runtime locked / Samantha in Vetrimaaran- STR film

Producer Shobhu Yarlagadda has announced that Baahubali: The Epic will have an impressive runtime of about 3 hours and 40 minutes. Fans of the franchise are eager to see how the creators have merged both parts of the original story into one spectacular film. As per the producer, Baahubali: The Epic has its runtime finalized and neatly divided into two parts: the first half, Baahubali: The Beginning, and the second half, Baahubali: The Conclusion. This format allows viewers to relive the full journey of Amarendra and Mahendra Baahubali in a single sitting, with all the drama, action, and emotion that made the original films iconic. With this announcement, expectations are high for Baahubali: The Epic, which aims to deliver a cinematic spectacle that honors the legacy of the franchise while offering a spectacular ride to the fans.Producer Shobu Yarlagadda has officially clarified that Baahubali 3 will not be announced in Baahubali: The Epic. While fans were hoping for a major update, he confirmed that the team still has a lot of work to do before anything can be revealed. The statement puts to rest any speculation about a third installment being hinted at in the re-released version.

Samantha is excitedly anticipating her big comeback in films, with reports from Tamil circles suggesting that she is in discussions to take on the female lead role in Vetrimaaran and Simbu’s upcoming project. If this project materializes, then definitely this will be a perfect way for a comeback for the actress, as Vetrimaaran’s films always have a great scope for solid performances.The film’s shooting is expected to start this month, and Anirudh is likely to compose the music, and it will be his first time with Vetrimaaran.