Entertainment

Entertainment Actor Pankaj Tripathi’s mother, Smt. Hemwanti Devi, passed away at the family’s hometown in Belsand, Gopalganj, Bihar, on Friday. She was 89 years old and had been unwell for some time. Pankaj Tripathi’s mother, Smt. Hemwanti Devi, passes away at 89 in Bihar According to an official statement issued on behalf of the Tripathi family, Smt. Hemwanti Devi “left for her heavenly abode peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her loved ones.” The actor was by her side during her final moments. The cremation took place on Saturday in Belsand, attended by close family members, relatives, and friends. In the statement, the family expressed deep sorrow over the loss and requested privacy during this difficult time. “The Tripathi family is mourning this immense loss and humbly request everyone to keep Smt. Hemwanti Devi in their thoughts and prayers. The family also requests the media and well-wishers to respect their privacy during this period of grief and allow them time to mourn in peace,” it read. Smt. Hemwanti Devi’s passing marks a personal loss for Pankaj Tripathi, who has often spoken fondly of his roots and family in Bihar. The actor and his family are currently in Belsand for the last rites. Also Read: LEAKED footage shows Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal back in action for Mirzapur: The Film shoot; Anjumm Shharma joins shoot in Banaras BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama. Read More

Entertainment The spirit of India soared high as Netflix unveiled its upcoming series, Operation Safed Sagar —an ambitious retelling of the Indian Air Force’s pivotal role in the Kargil War — at the first-ever Sekhon Indian Air Force Marathon 2025 (SIM-25) in New Delhi. Created by Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava and directed by Oni Sen, the series is headlined by Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, and Arnav Bhasin, among others. Netflix unveils Operation Safed Sagar at Sekhon Indian Air Force Marathon 2025, honoring IAF’s daring Kargil mission The marathon, held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, brought together serving officers, veterans, dignitaries, including Air Chief Marshal AP Singh- Chief of the Airstaff, members of the press, and thousands of civilians united in pride for the Indian Air Force. Amid an atmosphere charged with patriotism, Netflix India’s VP of Content, Monika Shergill, and Series Head, Tanya Bami, unveiled the teaser of what promises to be Netflix’s biggest Indian series of 2026. Produced by Matchbox Shots and Feel Good Films, and created with the support of the Indian Air Force, Operation Safed Sagar is a lesser-known chapter of the Kargil War based on true events. It follows a story of IAF pilots who pushed beyond their limits to attempt a daring and dangerous mission to fight for their motherland. Filmed extensively across operational Indian Air Force bases, the series features MiG aircraft and IAF personnel and offers an authentic, high-octane portrayal of heroism. Air Chief Marshal, Chief of the Airstaff Amar Preet Singh shares, “I am very happy to see 12,000 people participate in this marathon in Delhi, which was also simultaneously conducted at 46 places. I would like to congratulate Netflix on launching the series, Operation Safed Sagar. It was an air battle at the highest point and the Indian Air Force displayedthe  highest degree of professionalism in achieving the Kargil heights.” Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content – Netflix India, said, “We are proud to unveil Operation Safed Sagar today – a story that goes beyond the battlefield. It’s about the courage, friendship, and patriotism of those who went above and beyond to keep our nation safe. We are deeply grateful to the Indian Air Force for their trust and support on this series, inspired by their remarkable role in the Kargil War. Matchbox Shots and Feel Good Films have been incredible partners. And it’s even more special to work with fresh and dynamic voices like Abhijeet Singh Parmar, Kushal Srivastava, Oni Sen and Mehboob Pal Singh Brar to bring to life a story that reflects the strength, discipline, and unwavering spirit of the Indian Air Force.” Sanjay Routray, Co-founder and Director at Matchbox Shots, said, “Operation Safed Sagar is not just about war — it’s about courage, sacrifice, and transformation. With rare access to real IAF bases and the unwavering support of the Indian Air Force, we’ve brought to life a tribute to the fighter pilots who redefined bravery at impossible altitudes. The co-creator, Kushal Srivastava, was instrumental in bringing this story to us and backing it with all his conviction. Partnering with Netflix gave us the canvas and scale this story deserves, and their support has enabled us to tell this lesser-known story to the world.” Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Mehboob Pal Singh Brar of Feel Good Films add, “Operation Safed Sagar is a story of grit, heart and human spirit. Collaborating with Netflix and the Indian Air Force allowed us to capture that spirit with authenticity and scale, and we cannot be more thrilled to share this story with audiences worldwide.” A story backed by the Indian Air Force – with its unmatched scale, emotional depth, and real-life resonance – Operation Safed Sagar marks a milestone in military storytelling and reaffirms Netflix’s commitment to bringing powerful, lesser-known Indian stories to audiences worldwide. Operation Safed Sagar streams on Netflix in 2026. Also Read: Netflix and YRF partner to stream over 50 years of Bollywood classics worldwide including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan films Tags : Abhay Verma, Abhijeet Singh Parmar, Arnav Bhasin, Feel Good Films, Indian Air Force, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Jimmy Shergill, Kargil war, Kushal Srivastava, Matchbox Shots, Mihir Ahuja, Netflix, Netflix India, Oni Sen, Operation Safed Sagar, OTT, OTT Platform, Siddharth, Taaruk Raina, Web Series, Web Show BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama. Read More

Entertainment November 2, celebrated worldwide as SRK Day, just got grander. On Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday, maestro director Siddharth Anand unveiled the title reveal video of their much-awaited film King, showcasing SRK’s look from the film and marking their second collaboration after Pathaan. Bollywood Hungama was one of the few ones to report last week that the first reveal of King will take place on SRK’s birthday. Shah Rukh Khan turns fierce in Siddharth Anand’s explosive King teaser; birthday surprise unveils his salt-pepper look Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, King is set to release in 2026 and promises to be a new SRK experience, with Shah Rukh Khan presented like never before – it is sure to thrill fans across the globe. The film is a slick, high-octane action entertainer that redefines style, charisma, and thrills — and is set to be Siddharth Anand’s massiest film yet, taking his signature action storytelling to a whole new dimension. The King title reveal is a celebration of Shah Rukh Khan’s unmatched legacy — a true fan service by director Siddharth Anand. Unveiled by him as a birthday gift to SRK fans, we see a man unanimously known as King Khan take on the title role with merciless intensity. A man whose name inspires not just fear, but terror across continents as he says, “Sau deshon mein badnaam, duniya ne diya sirf ek hi naam” — King. Sharp-eyed fans will also spot an Easter egg — Khan wielding the King of Hearts card as a weapon — a symbolic nod to his enduring reign as the King of Hearts, both on and off-screen. His unique silver-haired look, signature ear accessories, and stylish persona are unlike anything fans have witnessed before. King is slated for a 2026 release. Also Read: Happy 60th birthday Shah Rukh Khan: How the superstar REVOLUTIONIZED Bollywood marketing with Om Shanti Om; the KING set the template everyone still follows! More Pages: King Box Office Collection BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama. Read More

Entertainment Shah Rukh Khan apologised to fans for skipping his traditional Mannat appearance on his 60th birthday, citing safety concerns due to massive crowds. Fans still gathered in huge numbers, turning Bandstand into a sea of excitement, Read further to know what happened next. Shah Rukh Khan fans who gathered outside Mannat to catch a glimpse of the superstar on his 60th birthday were left a little disappointed this year. The actor took to X (formerly Twitter) to apologise, revealing that he couldn’t step out to greet them due to safety concerns raised by authorities because of the massive crowd outside his Bandra home. Have been advised by authorities that I will not be able to step out and greet all you lovely people who have been waiting for me. My deepest apologies to all of you but have been informed that it is for the overall safety of everyone due to crowd control issues. Thank you for… — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 2, 2025 In his heartfelt note, SRK wrote, “Have been advised by authorities that I will not be able to step out and greet all you lovely people who have been waiting for me. My deepest apologies to all of you… it is for everyone’s safety due to crowd control issues.” He added, “I will miss seeing you more than you will. Was looking forward to sharing love. Love u all.” Every year, Shah Rukh greets his fans from Mannat’s balcony, waving and blowing kisses to thank them for their love. Despite police blocking nearby roads, videos showed fans finding creative ways to reach closer to Mannat — some even taking the seaside route across the rocky Bandstand stretch. Many had travelled from different states and countries just to celebrate the actor’s milestone birthday. Meanwhile, on his 60th birthday, the makers of his upcoming action film King released its first look, featuring SRK in high-octane action scenes that left fans thrilled online. Don’t Miss Out on the Latest Updates. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today! Read More

Entertainment Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan turned 60, and heartfelt wishes poured in from across the industry. Akshay Kumar’s witty message and the grand reveal of SRK’s King first look made the celebration even more special, Read further. Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan celebrated his 60th birthday on November 1, and wishes poured in from all corners of the industry. Among them, Akshay Kumar’s message stood out for its humor and warmth. Sharing a black-and-white photo with SRK, Akshay wrote on X, “Many, many congratulations on your special day, Shahrukh. 60 ka lagta nahi hai vaise tu kahin se. Shakal se 40, akal se 120 😉 Happy Birthday dost. Stay blessed.” Fans loved the camaraderie between the two Delhi-born superstars, who first shared the screen in *Dil To Pagal Hai* (1997). Many, many congratulations on your special day, Shahrukh. 60 ka lagta nahi hai vaise tu kahin se. Shakal se 40, akal se 120 😉 Happy Birthday dost. Stay blessed @iamsrk ✨? pic.twitter.com/XGAJWwjV92 — Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) November 2, 2025 Filmmaker Farah Khan also joined the celebrations, posting photos from the bash in Alibaug and writing, “Happy birthday KING… rule for another 100 years.” Farah and Shah Rukh have created several memorable hits together, including *Main Hoon Na*, *Om Shanti Om*, and *Happy New Year*. Adding to the excitement, Siddharth Anand unveiled the much-awaited first look of SRK’s upcoming film *King*. The poster shows him in a powerful, action-packed avatar, hinting at an intense cinematic experience. *King* is slated for release in 2026. Don’t Miss Out on the Latest Updates. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today! Read More

Entertainment Bollywood superstar Salman Khan recently praised singer Maan Panu’s latest track I’m Done, calling it ‘an amazing song after a long time.’ Fans are now curious to know more about the rising talent behind the soulful hit, Read further. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan recently gave a big shout-out to singer Maan Panu on social media after listening to his new track I’m Done. Salman shared that the song “stole his heart” and even joked that he wished it was one of his own songs. His post immediately caught everyone’s attention, leaving fans curious, who is Maan Panu? Who is Maan Panu? Maan Panu, born on July 5, comes from Kumaon, Uttarakhand, and holds a degree in Mathematical Sciences from Kumaun University. Before entering music, he worked as a marketing intern at Hitech Proaudio India Pvt. Ltd., where he grew the company’s Instagram following by 80% and closed several successful deals. He also worked as an Assistant Music Producer at Farr Studio in Mumbai and later became a singer-songwriter with ZOEE. His track I’m Done, released under Warner Music India on September 17, 2025, has gone viral for its lyrics and vocals. Currently, Maan is competing on the music reality show I-Popstar, where he’s part of Aditya Rikhari’s team. Salman Khan’s Appreciation Post On November 1, Salman Khan shared a photo from his Panvel farmhouse in a cowboy avatar and wrote, “An amazing track after a very long time… Congratulations! Wish this was one of my songs..@maanpanu_.” Maan responded sweetly, writing, “Now I’m Done ❤️?.” Maan Panu’s rising fame and Salman’s endorsement have now made him one of the most talked-about new talents in the Indian music scene. Don’t Miss Out on the Latest Updates. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today! Read More

Entertainment Home News and Gossip Shah Rukh Khan’s King look INSPIRED by Brad Pitt’s F1? Netizens observe… On the occasion of Shah Rukh Khan’s 60th birthday, director Siddharth Anand dropped the title video of King, giving fans a glimpse of SRK in a fierce action-packed avatar. Interestingly, one of his looks in the video reminds fans of Brad Pitt’s iconic style from F1. On the day of Shah Rukh Khan’s birth, the director Siddharth Anand let out the much-awaited title video of the film King. The video that showed the actor’s tough guy action scenes turned the social media upside down. The film is an action-drama that is Siddharth Anand’s and Shah Rukh Khan’s first collaboration. Siddharth has previously given one of the biggest hits Pathan. One moment of the video shows Shah Rukh as a convict coming out of jail. He has on a mustard-colored suede jacket, a worn-out blue denim shirt, and dark blue jeans. His outfit has sunglasses and a leather duffle bag that he carries on his shoulder. His fashionable and rough look soon went viral on social media. The fans were quick to point out that Shah Rukh’s look was very much like that of Hollywood star Brad Pitt in the movie F1, where Pitt was dressed in a similar jacket and jeans. While some people were discussing the comparison, it had the same effect as it only added to the buzz around King. Entertainment Shah Rukh Khan’s 60th birthday On November 2nd, Shah Rukh Khan turned 60. This year, instead of Mumbai where his famous residence Mannat is undergoing renovations, he celebrated his birthday with family and friends in Alibaug. One more interesting thing about the movie King is that Shah Rukh Khan will act together with his daughter Suhana Khan for the first time. Besides that, the film is packed with stars like Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Deepika Padukone, Raghav Juyal, Abhay Verma, Arshad Warsi, Anil Kapoor, and Sanjay Dutt. Entertainment When will Shah Rukh Khan’s King be released? Siddharth Anand and Shah Rukh Khan are getting ready to share this movie with an extremely stylish action plus emotional tale. The movie is in the production stage right now and is set to be released in 2026. The audience is on cloud nine to watch the duo of Shah Rukh and Suhana for the first time, and King is already one of the most discussed films in 2022. Don’t Miss Out on the Latest Updates. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today! Read More

Entertainment Home Photos THIS actor lost control while giving an INTIMATE scene, crossed all boundaries of BOLDNESS, kept KISSING the actress straight for…, he is… This actor completely lost control while filming an intimate scene with a well-known Bollywood actress. Even after the director called for a cut, he continued kissing and hugging her. Read on to find out more. 1/7 Entertainment Bold scenes in Bollywood The film industry is full of surprising stories. One such story involves actor Vinod Khanna, who was a very famous hero of his time but was also known for his many controversies. 2/7 Entertainment Everything related to Bollywood superstar Vinod Khanna Vinod Khanna was born on October 6, 1946, into a business family. He entered Bollywood in 1968 with the film Man Ka Meet and won hearts with his very first film. 3/7 Entertainment The daring movie of Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia Throughout his career, he delivered numerous superhit films and worked with almost every major actress. He and Dimple Kapadia also appeared in numerous films, such as Insaaf, Aakhri Adalat, Partition, Khoon Ka Karz, and Lekin. The two were also working in another film, Prem Dharm, which remained unfinished for many years. Later, the film was renamed Marg and was released direct to video in 1992. 4/7 Entertainment What year did Vinod Khanna return to Bollywood? According to media reports, Vinod Khanna stayed at the ashram of Bhagwan Rajneesh (Osho) for a few years. After returning from there, he resumed working in films and was constantly busy shooting. 5/7 Entertainment The bold scene between Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia During this time, director Mahesh Bhatt cast him and Dimple in the film Prem Dharm. One day, a romantic scene was to be shot, in which Vinod was to hug and kiss Dimple, and then they would fall asleep. 6/7 Entertainment Was Vinod Khanna out of control during the intimate scene? Vinod arrived on set very tired and late that day. The scene began, and he acted according to the script. But when Mahesh Bhatt called cut, Vinod didn’t listen and continued hugging and kissing Dimple. Dimple panicked and asked for help. The assistant director then came and stopped the shoot. 7/7 Entertainment Did Vinod Khanna go beyond all limits with Dimple Kapadia in the bold scene? Upon hearing cut, Vinod Khanna composed himself, while Dimple ran into the makeup room, crying. Later, when Mahesh Bhatt asked Vinod to apologize, he said he was drunk and lost control. Don’t Miss Out on the Latest Updates. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today! Entertainment Subscribe Now Read More

Entertainment Resurrection Metal Events Dubai founder Vinod Varma started out as a metal DJ and now hosts Mumbai extreme metallers Demonic Resurrection at the 39th edition on Nov. 1, 2025 It’s only apt that Bengaluru-raised, Dubai-based metal gig organizer Vinod Varma is bringing Mumbai extreme metallers Demonic Resurrection (DR) at the upcoming edition of his gig series Desert Inferno on Nov. 1, 2025. “Sahil [Makhija aka Demonstealer, founder and guitarist-vocalist of DR] is always so resilient; he never gives up. This is what it is for me as well. I’m a resilient person, whatever the challenges are. There are ups and downs, but you don’t give up,” Varma, the founder of Resurrection Metal Events Dubai, who also holds down a job in digital media, says over a video call from his office conference room. Resurrection Metal Events Dubai, which Varma runs along with South African-origin Dubai-based promoter Matthew Scott Joyner, was started between 2009 and 2012 and has now hosted international bands, local U.A.E.-based bands and Indian metal bands. From Dutch metallers Pestilence to German thrash veterans Destruction, Middle East mainstays Nervecell and Indian bands like Godless, Gutslit, Kryptos, Girish and The Chronicles, Chaos, Amorphia, The Down Troddence and Inner Sanctum, Varma has worked with them all. Varma has an encyclopedic knowledge of metal across India and the Middle East. He can tell you about Oman’s black metal band Arabia who played the first gig he organized inside the Grand Hyatt in Muscat in 2009. He can go further back and reel off names of legendary bands like Millennium and the time they played hallowed Bengaluru venue Chowdiah Memorial Hall in the Nineties, or the now-defunct 19 Church Street where rock and metal ruled the Garden City with bands like Vulcan Edge and Crimson Storm. He moved to Oman from Bengaluru in 2004 as an “economic migrant.” Varma says, “I was not a call center kind of a guy, so that made me move. I got an opportunity to move to Oman with my wife and I started a job immediately with a media company in Muscat.” Then, there was also a move to Bahrain before he finally moved to Dubai in 2012. When Varma moved to the U.A.E., Dubai Desert Rock Festival had kicked off, bringing global metal favorites to the Gulf, including Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Robert Plant, Motorhead, Korn, Opeth, Mastodon and more. “It was a great festival also because it was all-ages, we had people coming from all over—Bahrain, Oman, Saudi, Egypt and even Russia. The gathering was fantastic,” Varma says. Kerala thrash metallers Amorphia with Vinod Varma (second from left, in Anthrax T-shirt) live in Dubai. Photo: Resurrection Metal Events Dubai Yet, Varma says he felt “claustrophobic” when he first moved to Muscat, because he was missing the metal community back home. In the pre-social media age, the only place to meet metalheads was at bars. One day, he spotted a truck with a Slayer decal that led him to become friends with Qais Sabbagh, an early metal gig promoter. They traveled to festivals like Wacken Open Air in Germany for a few years in a group. Varma says, “That’s what sparked things up, around 2008. We said, ‘We should be doing this in Oman.’” After his inaugural gig in 2009 in Muscat, the Middle East transformed as cities like Dubai opened up. Dubai Desert Rock Festival may have had its final edition in 2009, but that’s when Varma was just getting started. In 2012, after moving to Dubai, Varma played several clubs as a metal DJ under the moniker DJ Wynn, thus creating a network of metal fans as well as venues. In 2015, he had gathered enough funds to bring down Mumbai thrash/death metal band Devoid for their first international gig, also marking the first Indian band that played a Resurrection gig. Through his day job, savings and DJ gig money, Resurrection Metal Events runs monthly now, starting with regularity around 2022 with the Desert Inferno gig series. “My daily work as a media man is good, but metal is passion and people who’ve known for me ages know what kind of metalhead I am,” Varma says.   Bengaluru metallers Kryptos live in Dubai. Photo: Resurrection Metal Events Dubai It wasn’t the first time an Indian metal band had played Dubai—Varma points to torchbearers like Pin Drop Violence having performed, plus Demonic Resurrection too had played in 2014 and 2015. But it was the beginning of a movement for Varma. Demonstealer, now performing for the third time in the region, says, “I think the deal has been exactly the same, so nothing has changed. It’s [the promoters offering to] cover all your expenses, come and play the show, sell your merch. It’s good.” Marking the 25th anniversary of Demonic Resurrection, Dubai was a “bucket list” city to come back and play for Demonstealer, and it worked out after a few months of finding the right date. They’re playing a career-spanning set, from A Darkness Descends to Dashavatar to newer singles like “Necromancer” from 2022. Mumbai brutal death metallers Gutslit played Dubai first in 2018 and came back for Varma’s gig series March Massacre in 2023, followed by Desert Inferno in 2024 alongside Pune thrash metallers Kasck. It served as a kickoff point for their tours. Bassist and founder Gurdip Singh Narang calls Dubai “a very good prospect for Indian bands,” more so if you’re traveling onward to Europe for the rest of the shows considering Dubai is a major travel hub. “The crowd there is super supportive and it’s a lot of people from all over the world, so when you are playing you have a global exposure,” he adds. Gutslit live at Desert Inferno in Dubai in 2024. Photo: Resurrection Metal Events Dubai Demonstealer adds, “Dubai is a great spot to play, there’s a nice, small metal community there. It’s really great that Vinod is being able to build that sort of community and infrastructure there for that to happen.” The way

Entertainment From releasing his first all-acoustic album to reimagining a Hindi ballad with Anurag Saikia and Craig David, the Dutch trance legend talks evolution, India, and staying ahead of the curve. Photo: Courtesy of the artist I first saw Armin van Buuren live in 2015, when he brought his A State of Trance world tour to Mumbai for the first time. A decade later, I witnessed the Dutch trance pioneer unveil his audiovisual experience The Orb at Tomorrowland this year, and the shift in energy was palpable. While his earlier shows were tightly engineered productions of frenetic synths, rolling basslines, smoke, and lasers, his sound now felt darker and more complex. Yet, the showmanship and scale that have always defined van Buuren stayed the same. As a glowing sphere floated above the stage and he dropped his track “Heavy” with the force of artillery fire, it almost felt like a statement: he wasn’t here to reminisce, but to keep pushing the envelope of what an Armin van Buuren experience can look, feel, and sound like. Now, he’s blowing up that boundary even more with Piano, an all-acoustic album which sees the electronic music icon step into the role of a classical musician on record for the first time. A collection of 15 self-composed and self-produced tracks featuring both piano and strings, van Buuren charts new sonic terrains alongside his piano instructor, Geronimo Snijtsheuvel. Released on Oct. 31, 2025, the album brims with van Buuren’s signature cinematic sweep but distills it into its most pared-back form. Recorded in seven one-take sessions at the ConcertLab studio in Utrecht, Piano finds van Buuren at his most curious and unguarded, whether he’s messing around with mic’d drones on “Clouded Window,” tapping into his proclivity for anthems on “Sonic Samba,” or drifting into waltz rhythms with ¾ time signatures on “Soaring Kite” and “Ballerina.”  “Lately I’ve been finding myself playing with things like ¾ time signatures or progressions that don’t really fit into the world of dance music,” van Buuren tells Rolling Stone India, explaining how working on the acoustic record helped him unlock new layers to his decades-long sound. “Piano gave me the space to explore those ideas and let them be heard in their pure form, without having to adapt them to the club.” Photo: Courtesy of the artist Van Buuren’s renewed fascination with the classical form began five years ago, when he started taking piano lessons during a particularly emotionally draining period. Working closely with Snijtsheuvel, a classical, jazz, and conservatory musician, van Buuren used his composition classes as a launchpad for fresh ideas, a much-needed creative reset that would eventually lead him to Piano. But it’s a sound that’s always been anchored in his DNA. His father, Joep van Buuren, was himself a pianist and first sparked his love for the instrument, laying the foundation for his melodic sensibility. “I’ve always started writing my songs at the piano, so in a way this record feels like coming full circle,” he says. In fact, returning to the piano medium has also trickled into his creative process as an electronic artist. “Understanding harmony and movement on a deeper level gives me more freedom when I’m producing,” he says. “I can build tracks that feel more intentional, because I know exactly what emotion each chord or transition can create. It’s made me so much more aware of what I’m actually doing in the studio.” That sense of intention seems to be what’s carried van Buuren through his most creatively charged year yet. And as the electronic music trailblazer continues to venture into new sonic universes, it’s clear he’s pursuing something far deeper than pure propulsion. Reflecting on the importance of evolution and risk-taking, he firmly believes the need for carefully labelled and clustered genres is now becoming increasingly obsolete. “More recently, [even genres like] trance and techno have been fusing more and more often,” he points out. “That would have never happened in the early 2000s. Back then, genres were much more walled off, and stepping beyond those zones was seen as incredibly risky. But the past decade has shown that people have opened their minds.” He likens this revelation to the way forward for his trance music persona as well, emphasising that rather than revolving around a bpm or fixed sound elements, A State of Trance continues to celebrate trance without being confined by old-fashioned standards. Another surprising move this year was his cross-cultural collaboration on “Ishq Hai (This Is Love),” with composer Anurag Saikia and U.K. R&B mainstay Craig David, which bridged trance, R&B, and Indian classical melodies into one heady collaboration. “What really surprised me was how naturally those different worlds could come together once we stopped thinking in terms of genres,” he says. “Indian classical music has such a deep emotional core. It’s about expression and spirituality, which is something trance has always shared. Working with Anurag and Craig opened me up to new rhythmic patterns and melodic phrasing I might not have explored otherwise. It reminded me that music truly is a universal language: you just have to listen and let it guide you.” India, he adds, has long held a special place in the global electronic music story. “While it took a little longer for mainstream electronic music to gain a foothold in India, people often forget that Goa Trance is part of its heritage,” he says, referring to the electronic music movement born on the beaches of Anjuna and Vagator in the late Eighties, a mixture of acid house, psychedelic rock, and spiritual motifs, that birthed psy trance and cemented India’s place in dance music history.  “That legacy has built such a strong foundation for where the scene is headed now,” he adds. “You can see it in the crowd — they’re passionate, curious, and eager to embrace new sounds. I can’t wait to see how it develops next.” Having witnessed the evolution of electronic music from the days of vinyl to the streaming era, van