WHy Rajamouli spend Rs 50 crores to build Varanasi in Hyderabad / Srinidhi in AK film ?

 

Rajamouli’s Film Surpasses Devdas’s Expenditure!

To date, the reported price of the costliest set of the Indian Cinema was Devdas, spending around 20 crore of its budget on the sets! Interestingly, out of this 20 crore, 12 crore were spent to create Chandramukhi’s Kotha!

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo!

After SSMB29 & Devdas, the third most costly set of Indian Cinema was created for Salman Khan‘s Prem Ratan Dhan Payo! A whopping amount of 15 crore was spent to create sets for the royal family drama!

Kalank!

A fictional city reflecting the pre-Independence era was created for Dharma Productions’ magnum opus Kalank. The film had a beautiful set, though it was too beautiful to be real! The set was created for 15 crore!

Jodha Akbar!

Ashutosh Gowariker spend 12 crore to create the sets of Jodha Akbar! The film was based on the life of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and his Rajput wife, Jodha Bai!

To know about earlier units that filmed at Varanasi read this link ; https://redscarabtravelandmedia.wordpress.com/tag/films-shot-in-varanasi/

Excerpts from a boatman ;

‘That’s Meer Ghat, associated with Meerabai. That’s where Shabana Azmi’s English film was going to be shot… but they were chased away,’ said Gorakh referring to Deepa Mehta’s Water. ‘Why?’ ‘Arrey, it was on a sensitive subject – Indian widows. There is a widow house right there… below Ganapathi Guest House. You have to keep in mind local sentiments.’

‘It’s only a film and eventually they shot it… in Sri Lanka’, we countered, defending artistic freedom. ‘Hardly surprising, Ravana’s evil lair! Who says not to shoot here – Arjun Pandit, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Laga Chunari Mein Daag were all filmed at Man Mandir ghat. That’s the boat in which Ram Teri Ganga Maili was shot. There’s Pradeep Kumar’s riverside mansion. But anything ulta pulta…’ Gorakh shook his head.

 

Srinidhi Shetty tipped to make Tamil debut opposite Ajith

Amid the rising expectations, the latest discussion about the film's leading lady has come to light. Reports suggest that Srinidhi Shetty, who gained nationwide fame for her role in the 'KGF' series, is in advanced talks to act opposite Ajith. This will mark her Tamil debut, and her role in 'Ak 64' adds a new dynamic to the film's casting.

“It is said that SSMB29 has created the costliest film set of the Indian Cinema, amounting to 50 crore! This is almost 150% higher than the previous costliest set of the Indian Cinema, which is now occupying the second spot after Rajamouli’s film took the top spot!

Mammootty-Mohanlal film title Patriot revealed

 iFinally Mammootty- Mohanlal film directed by Mahesh Naryanan title is `Patriot’, This was revealed by Sri Lankan Tourism Board welcoming Mohanlal to the Island Nation for second schedule of the film. Fahadh Faasil, Darshana Rajendran and Kunchacko Boban are taking part in the second  schedule. The first schedule included Mammooty. “South Indian cinema legend Mohanlal has chosen Sri Lanka as the perfect backdrop for his latest Malayalam film Patriot and his second visit to Sri Lanka.  So far 8 schdules has been completed. Mammootty and Mohanlal have worked together in over 55 films . The duo have earlier collaborated on the 2013 release ‘Kadal kadannu oru Mathukutty directed by Renjith.

Reports say that screenplay has been changed to make Kunchacko and Mohanlal role lengthier.

In a now-deleted or quietly overlooked Facebook post, Sri Lanka’s official tourism page appears to have named the project while promoting the country’s rising popularity as a shooting destination. Whether it was a PR slip or a clever bit of viral marketing, fans are all over it — dissecting, decoding, and delighting in the possibility that the title has been revealed before the filmmakers intended.

It was in the 1980s that Mammootty and Mohanlal established themselves in the industry as big stars. Interestingly, here we are talking about an instance when Mohanlal appeared as a character named as Mammootty. It was during the first half of the 1980s that the much loved actor had played a character with the name Mammootty. Yes, we are talking about the 1984 movie Manasariyathe, in which Mohanlal had played a character named Mammootty. The film had featured Nedumudi Venu in the lead role and Mohanlal too, essayed a crucial role in this movie. Mammootty, the character played by Mohanlal in the movie appears only halfway down the movie, but the character has a crucial part in the development of the movie.

Mohanlal has appeared as Mohanlal in a couple of films. In Manu Uncle, the Mammootty starrer, the actor played himself doing a memorable cameo. Similar was the case of the movie Kadal Kadannoru Maathukutty, in which he appeared as himself.

At the same time, he has also portrayed characters named Lal in some of the films. How can we forget the Sarvakalashala, in which he is fondly called as 'Lalettan' by all? Similarly, Mohanlal essayed a character named Lal, in Lal Americayil.

Udhaynidhi son Joins Kalaignar TV / Coolie to be Lokesh- Aamir film LCU / Jacqueline at Sri Sri Ashram

Inbanidhi, the 21-year-old son of Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and grandson of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, formally assumed responsibilities in the management team of Kalaignar TV on 3 June 2025 — the birthday of DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi.

Inbanidhi, who holds a degree in financial management from London, was accompanied by his mother Kiruthiga to the Kalaignar TV office located at the DMK headquarters in Arivalayam.

He was warmly received by Karthikeyan — son of Chief Minister Stalin’s wife Durga’s sister — who currently serves as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. According to DMK officials, Inbanidhi is involved in financial management and regularly consults with key team members.

Dinamalar reports that Inbanidhi is said to work from 11:00 AM until 5:30 PM each day at the television network’s office in Neelankarai, Chennai.

Source; https://thecommunemag.com/dmk-scion-udhayanidhi-stalins-son-inbanidhi-joins-dmk-mouthpiece-kalaignar-tvs-management-team/

 

   Coolie First single will feature TR and Anirudh along with Thalaivar is latest buzz. Now Lokesh watchers say that Coolie and upcoming film with Aamir Khan is new LCU that is coming up. It seems that Aamir has 8 minutes cameo in Coolie and that is the start of new Aamir film by Lokesh and that means Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna as well as Upendra will be part of it. We had reported that Benz is part of Leo universe and Madonna Sebastain as the link to Raghava Lawrence and so Vijay making a cameo is a must. Similarly Lokesh – Aamir film is part of another universe starting with Coolie and that means Rajinikanth. As such Coolie is now a standalone film. Coolie is one of the most anticipated movies of Kollywood, and it has a huge buzz across the nation, if Anirudh Ravichander delivers stunning background scores and songs in Coolie his work will reach a huge set of audience and will be a massive comeback after a setback from Vidaamuyarchi and Vettaiyan.

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez recently stepped into serenity, sharing a deeply personal and spiritual journey with her fans through a heartfelt Instagram post captioned, “My heart is full / thank you @gurudev for the guidance and the light / I feel indebted to you.. @artofliving”. The post featured a series of intimate images capturing her visit to the Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru, under the guidance of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Dressed in soft, traditional Indian attire, Jacqueline was seen immersed in moments of peace, prayer, and purposeful reflection. One picture shows her seated with folded hands before Gurudev, radiating reverence and gratitude. 

Why Jonita removes images of DI@K from her Instagram Page and Drunk Guys on Stage

 During the interview, Jonita shared a particularly disturbing incident involving social media misuse. Recalling an incident of digital harassment, she said, “On Instagram, you can check your mentions, right? So I was checking my mentions, and I had been added to someone's 'Close Friends' list. I was seeing their Instagram story, and it's a d*ck pic... It's a watermark of their thing with my photo in the background. It's disgusting.”*

The ‘What Jhumka’ singer added that while she usually ignores such things, it’s still a form of harassment. “I also report these things. I think they just want attention. People are jobless. I've blocked so many people because of these things,” she said, expressing concern over the impact it may have on her family. “People also tag you in such photos. I don't really care, but if my mom checks my profile and sees those things... I want to protect her from those.”

“Some people just want a female performer on stage”

Apart from her online experiences, Jonita also reflected on awkward and sometimes alarming interactions with over-enthusiastic fans at live shows. She stressed the importance of performing for audiences who value her artistry and not merely her presence as a female performer.

“There are people who just get on the stage and say that they want to join me in singing. Of course, that's annoying. It is really annoying. And I hit them back with a sarcastic response, but they are too drunk to understand,” she revealed.

Talking about unwanted physical proximity, she added, “There are also some who come and try to dance with you. But I’ll be like, 'Back off. Know your place.'”

Speaking of the professional front, the 35-year-old artist is currently busy promoting her latest track, ‘Beparwai.’

Thalapathy to do cameo in Kaithi2 with Kamal / No Illaya Kamaraj says Thalapathy Vijay

 Latest on Kaithi 2 is that Thalapathy Vijay who has retired from films will don the makeup for Kaithi 2, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Part of LCU, the film brings in Vijay's Leo connections. The film is also the extension of the the charachter Roles by Suriya in  Vikram and that brings in Kamal Haasan. Read on :Kaithi 2 is a FACE-OFF between Dilli (Karthi) and Rolex (Suriya).

That is the core of the film and this showdown will begin the proper happenings of the universe’s plot. The film will also dive into some flashback bits of Dilli and will properly introduce and show who is Rolex.

The connections between them and the rest of the franchise movies are going to be properly set with this film.

So after wrapping up Marshal, Karthi wTamilaga Vettri Kazhagam President and actor Vijay on Friday ..

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Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President and actor Vijay appealed to students participating in the party's felicitation functions on Friday, June 13, to refrain from comparing him to the late Chief Minister K Kamaraj or discussing the 2026 assembly elections.

At one such event organised on Friday, June 13, Vijay honoured Class 10 and Class 12 students who secured top ranks in their respective schools across Tamil Nadu, according to the report by The New Indian Express.

During his address, he requested the students' participants to avoid political references and refrain from using terms like "Ilaiya Kamaraj (Little Kamaraj)" to refer to him.

Before the event began, attendees observed a two-minute silence in memory of the victims of the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. "This is a small request, please don't take it the wrong way. Let's keep the speeches a bit brief and avoid political references. Please refrain from speaking about the 2026 elections, or mentioning leaders like Kamaraj or Ilaya Kamaraj. Instead, talk about your teachers, your school, or any other subject of your choice," he said.

Vijay's remarks appeared to be a response to recent controversies. Certain groups and caste-based organisations opposed to students comparing Vijay with Kamaraj at a recent event, as per the report by The New Indian Express.

At Friday's event, approximately 300 meritorious students from 32 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 19 in Puducherry were presented with cash prizes and merit certificates.

Know all about Allu Arjun Shaktimaan film with Minnal Murali Basil / Ram Charan wife Upasana's drive for Breast Cancer help

 Shaktimaan, starring Mukesh Khanna, was one of the most popular and iconic TV shows of the 90s. It is more like a sentiment for an entire generation. In 2022, Sony Pictures announced its decision to revive the show. They announced that Shaktimaan will be adapted into a movie. Naturally, the big question that emerged was who would play the iconic lead role. There were multiple reports claiming Ranveer Singh will step into Mukesh's shoes. However, those rumours were never confirmed. But now, fresh reports claim the film could be headlined by none of than Pushpa star Allu Arjun.

Allu Arjun to play Shaktimaan?

According to a recent Bollywood Bubble report, Allu Arjun is currently in talks to play the role of Shaktimaan on the big screen. Additionally, the project is believed to be helmed by Minnal Murali director Basil Joseph. A source to the project told the portal, “The much ambitious Shaktimaan is now to be revived with Allu Arjun. Adding to the excitement, Basil Joseph, who impressed audiences and critics alike with the Malayalam superhero film Minnal Murali, has been roped in to direct the mega venture. He is in talks with Allu Arjun to play Shaktimaan. The much-talked-about project, backed by Sony Pictures. The team aims to honour the nostalgic essence of the original TV series while reimagining it with cutting-edge technology and a gripping narrative.”

The source added, “Two big international studios set to collaborate with Geetha Arts, with stakeholders from four different industries backing the project." The report has sent waves of excitement among Allu Arjun fans. Given the popularity and appeal he has achieved through Pushpa, watching him as Shaktimaan on the big screens will be a treat.

FUJIFILM India, a leader in healthcare technology, has launched its latest CSR campaign, ‘Find It Early, Fight It Early’, in the presence of Ms. Upasana Kamineni Konidela, Vice Chairperson of CSR, Apollo Hospitals Foundation. This initiative is focused on generating awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection, particularly in underserved regions where discussions around women's health are often stigmatized.

This awareness campaign will be implemented across 23 cities, aiming to reach over 1 lakh women through structured community engagement, health risk assessments, and sensitization efforts led by trained field educators. The program, implemented by Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF), reflects FUJIFILM India’s commitment to building a more informed and health-aware society.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer among Indian women. According to the National Cancer Registry Program by ICMR, it accounts for approximately 14% of all cancers diagnosed among women, with 1 in 29 women at risk of developing the disease in her lifetime. Unfortunately, most cases are detected at advanced stages due to stigma, limited awareness, and lack of access to timely care. ‘Find It Early, Fight It Early’ is designed to address these challenges by providing reliable, culturally sensitive information at the community level. By facilitating respectful, open conversations through on-ground workshops and awareness sessions, the initiative encourages women to become more proactive about their health—recognizing early symptoms, understanding self-examination techniques, and seeking timely medical consultation.

Ms. Upasana Kamineni Konidela, Vice Chairperson of CSR, Apollo Hospitals, said,

> “As healthcare leaders, we have a responsibility not only to treat illness but to anticipate it through awareness, education, and access. Breast cancer continues to claim lives because too many women lack the information and resources needed to act early. This CSR initiative by FUJIFILM India reflects a deeper understanding of that reality. Our support is grounded in a shared commitment to take meaningful action where it matters most and ensure that awareness reaches the women who need it before it's too late.”

Anushka is REAL LADY SUPERSTAR / Kalyani Superhero and in Karthi film

 Anushka Shetty's Ghatti the female centric Telugu film OTT rights has been sold for Rs 36 crores to Amazon. No heroine centric film in the South has been sold for this price so far. Also OTT Play says that Anushka acting Benz is false new; Read on

Anushka Shetty's name gets associated with Kaithi 2

For the last two days, news has come out that none other than Anushka Shetty will be playing the female lead and that she has signed the dotted line. But we at OTTplay have come to know that there is no truth to this news, and the reports circulating are false.

One of the sources close to Anushka from Hyderabad has confirmed to us that no one has even approached her to date and that whatever news is being circulated is not true. The source goes on to add that Anushka is done with the shoot of her Telugu film Ghaati and has not committed to any other Tamil or Telugu film to date.

One can see Anushka after a long gap in Ghaati, which has been directed by Krish of Vedham fame. She will be seen in a crazy role in this film, which also features Vikram Prabhu, the noted Tamil actor, in a key role. Stay tuned for more updates on this project.

We at OTTplay have come to know that Amazon has spent a whopping ₹36 crore to acquire the digital rights. This is the highest-ever price for any female-centric film in the South and shows the kind of following Anushka Shetty commands, despite not doing many films of late.

Ghaati is Anushka Shetty's new film that is all set to hit the screens on July 11, 2025. The teaser surprised one and all, and the trailer will be out soon. The makers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the film resonates with the audience.

Vikram Prabhu in Ghaati

The news is also that Ghaati will be out on OTT within a month of its theatrical release, and that is one of the reasons Amazon has spent big on the film.

Ghaati also features Tamil actor Vikram Prabhu in a key role. Krish, of Vedham and Hari Hara Veera Mallu fame, has directed the film on a massive scale. A source close to the unit has revealed to us that Ghaati has been made on a budget of ₹45 crore, and out of that, ₹36 crore has already been recovered through digital rights. the producers are now in advanced talks to close the theatrical rights in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for over ₹12 crore, ensuring a profitable pre-release recovery,"

The teaser showcasing Anushka in a fierce, cigar-smoking anger-driven role created major buzz. Combined with Krish’s intense teaser cut,it sealed the deal at a record price.

Karthi next Marshal to be shot by Director Tamizh will have Kalyani Priyadarshan along with Vadivelu who plays a role equal to main lead. ‘LOKA – Chapter 1: Chandra’, the first instalment in a bold new cinematic universe. The film stars Kalyani with Basleen. Poster shows Kalyani in a superhero charchter.

All about Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen's film

Dulquer Salmaan announced Wayfarer Films’ seventh production in September 2024. Now, the team has announced that the film girst look , helmed by Arun Dominic, has wrapped up shooting after 94 days of shooting on January 29, 2025.  

Apart from Naslen, the film also features Arun Kurian and Chandu Salimkumar. All three actors had wrapped up shooting