Entertainment

Entertainment As the movie Avatar: The Way of Water returns to theatres for a limited one-week run starting October 2, fans are in for a unique cinematic experience. Audiences will get an exclusive first look at James Cameron’s upcoming film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, shown only in theatres before the feature presentation. Experience Pandora like never before: Fire and Ash preview plays with Avatar: The way of water In addition to the preview, movie goers will see a personal message from Oscar-winning director James Cameron. In it, he offers insights into the next chapter of the Avatar saga and a glimpse behind the scenes of what’s to come. The exclusive footage introduces a new setting and characters, beginning with the Sully family and Spider riding the medusoids — large, jellyfish-like creatures connected to the Windtraders. They are joined by Peylak, portrayed by David Thewlis, who appears for the first time in the franchise as the leader of the Tlalim Clan. This scene confirms Jake Sully’s new alliance with the Windtraders, though the full details and implications of this partnership remain under wraps. The sneak peek dives deeper into the world of Pandora, offering a taste of the visual spectacle, emotional depth, and high-stakes storytelling that fans can expect from Avatar: Fire and Ash. With stunning imagery and powerful new characters, the preview sets the tone for what may be the most ambitious entry in the franchise yet. This marks the first time any footage from Avatar: Fire and Ash have been shown publicly, making it a special event for long-time fans and newcomers alike. Don’t miss this opportunity to revisit Avatar: The Way of Water on the big screen and be among the first to witness the next chapter of Pandora’s story. Also Read: BREAKING: Moviegoers to experience Avatar: Fire And Ash’s trailer for the FIRST time in cinemas in India with Avatar: The Way Of Water’s re-release on October 2 More Pages: Avatar: Fire and Ash (English) Box Office Collection , Avatar: Fire and Ash (English) Movie Review 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 In Auroville, music spills across courtyards, farms, and makeshift stages, entwining jazz, rock, folk, and Indian traditions into a living experiment in sound On a humid evening in Auroville, the music starts without warning. A bass line emerges in the corner of a rooftop courtyard, answered by the shimmer of cymbals and a piano phrase that seems to bend the air. This is the sound of the Auroville music scene: alive in the moment. In this small experimental township on the Coromandel Coast, a distinctive music scene has been slowly blossoming — one that blends improvisation with idealism, rooted traditions, and open-ended collaboration. In a place where people from around the world gather to explore alternative, often radically creative ways of living, it’s only natural for music to thrive.  Given that the concentration of artistic minds here is unusually high, the sounds that emerge from the community tend to reflect the openness of the place itself. Here, music isn’t confined to clubs or formal concerts. It flows through homes, rehearsal rooms, gardens, farms, and makeshift stages, moving between projects, friendships, and ideas. In many ways, the music mirrors Auroville’s own dream: borderless, intentional, and fluid. From the open architecture of the town to the organic rhythm of its days, everything invites deep listening. Improvisation becomes second nature in a place where certainty is rare and collaboration is essential. At the heart of this movement is a web of interconnected ensembles — Emergence, Refuge, Sage for the Ages, TRAK, and Beginnings — each reflecting a facet of Auroville’s evolving sonic identity. They share more than just overlapping line-ups: they share an ethos of fearless experimentation and deep listening. Musicians span continents, idioms, and generations, and their instruments — voice, guitar, piano, bass, drums, saxophone — become portals for dialogue. Krishna Mackenzie with Emergence. Photo: Chethan Ram & Vamsi Krishna Krishna McKenzie’s Emergence, shaped by the ecological and social principles of Solitude Farm, fuses jazz, acoustic rock, and Indo-pop into music that is both lush and grounded. Over a long career, the band has seen many incarnations, inevitably featuring some of Auroville’s most prolific performers — Suresh Bascara, Mish’ko M’ba, Matt Littlewood, and presently the rhythm section of Dhani Muniz and Raul Mattia. Their new album Cage, released on Aug. 18 and produced by The Paper Factory as a collaboration between Muniz and Navneeth Krishnan, captures McKenzie’s heartfelt songwriting coupled with these musicians’ raw, improvisational energy (as well as that of Edmund Held on trumpet). Muniz and Mattia also make up the rhythm section of Sage For The Ages, a neo-soul/Latin R&B band headed by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Kirtana Krishna. The band reflects a distinctly Auroville aesthetic: cross-cultural and deeply collaborative. Their compositions are eclectic and passionate, covering the lyrical spectrum from the metaphysical to the political. Featuring Aman Mahajan on keys, they are releasing their third album, R-evolution (also produced by The Paper Factory), this winter. Mattia, Mahajan, and Navneeth Krishnan also form the rest of the lineup of TRAK, Dhani Muniz’s group, and his primary outlet as a guitarist. They are an avant-nu jazz ensemble that has grown out of his previous group, Suite; the expatriate and their album, Chimu Fiesta. Previously featuring musicians such as Suresh Bascara (ex-drummer for Emergence), saxophonist Maarten Visser of Chennai, and local bassist/guitarist Jules Arindam, their new, renamed dual-drummer incarnation is an edgier, genre-fluid statement from a group that walks the tightrope between freedom and groove. Dhani Muniz. Photo: Courtesy of the artist Krishnan himself is an integral cog in much of the South Indian independent music scene. As a producer, drummer/percussionist, live audio engineer, photographer, videographer, and the more technically gifted half of The Paper Factory production team, Krishnan oversees the documentation and recording of much of the bioregion’s new emanations, as well as many of his own. Aman Mahajan’s project Refuge, meanwhile, explores an evolving sense of home, which complements the Auroville spirit. Ranging from solo piano to trio and quartet lineups (many of which have featured the previous Emergence rhythm section of Mish’ko M’ba and Suresh Bascara) along with the saxophone talents of Matt Littlewood and, more recently, Muniz’s bass playing, it is a Bengaluru-based project whose main contributors have often come from Auroville — forming an inextricable link for over a decade.  Aman Mahajan at CRIPA, Auroville. Photo: Navneeth Krishnan Also a great fan of the duo setting for piano, Mahajan is the other half of the riddle that is Tinctures, playing irresistible cat and mouse games with the (currently) Berlin-based guitarist/producer Nishad Pandey. Both musicians have also recorded slightly more experimental duo albums with Muniz in Auroville called Quos Ego. Set to release in October, it is a film-based project recorded by him and Mahajan on a quiet day in CRIPA (Centre for Research in the Performing Arts). “Jugaad,” a series of eccentrically off-kilter vignettes put together by him and Pandey, will be out soon. Raul Mattia, one of the youngest yet exceedingly accomplished players in the scene, is also the drummer in Matt Littlewood’s revolving-door lineup of Beginnings — a project dedicated to his own original compositions and an outlet for his instrument of choice, the piano. Playing hypnotic, non-stop sets, Beginnings connects decades of Auroville jazz history, with Littlewood collaborating with musicians such as Mattia, Muniz, Holger Jetter, Sankarshan “Shanks” Kini, Txuma Prat, Rolf Bosbach, and Suryan Stettner to bring his works to life. Matthew Littlewood’s Beginnings – (from left to right) Raul Mattia, Matthew Littlewood, Holger Jetter, Sankarshan ‘Shanks’ Kini. Photo: Courtesy of the artist A testament to the vibrancy of the local scene, Auroville continues to attract some of the most forward-thinking independent musicians in India, even without the financial incentives one might find in more metropolitan music scenes. Arjun Chandran moved to the area a year ago after being loosely based in Bengaluru. His unique style of slide guitar pays homage to the traditional American folk blues, combining that with more traditional Indian and worldwide folk styles collected on his travels

Entertainment From Havana’s shuttered dance halls to Begum Akhtar’s defiance, history shows that though repression may stall the arts for a time, the rhythms of resilience never stop playing Ry Cooder plays his guitar during an interview, Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1973. (Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns) Cuba has a rich tradition of song and dance that is fabulously vibrant and celebratory. However, for almost forty years, this art form lay dormant in the island nation because of its political conditions. The music scene in Cuba in the 1940s and 1950s was full of life. Cuban musicians played exciting dance music with Latin rhythms of the Rumba, Mambo, and the Cha Cha Cha, which were not just popular in Cuba, but also in the U.S. and Europe. They were also heard in our cities, notably Mumbai (then Bombay), Kolkata (then Calcutta), and Delhi, playing covers in restaurants and clubs. In fact, some of the popular Cuban songs were given Hindi lyrics and featured in Hindi films. Check out “Aa Ja Zara” from the 1957 film Ek Jhalak, and “Babuji Dheere Chalna” from the 1954 movie Aar Paar, which were both popular Bollywood hits. Then listen to “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” and “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White,” the Cuban originals that inspired them, and perhaps you’ll be able to spot the similarity.  Cuban bands, like those of Perez Prado and Xavier Cugat, made records which were in high demand worldwide, while also performing live, most notably in Las Vegas and in California. One of Perez Prado’s hits from 1949, “Mambo Number 5,” was remixed and released in 1999 by Lou Bega, becoming a big hit. There was also an entirely different culture of music in Cuba, popular outside the capital city of Havana. This style showcased traditional Cuban rhythms such as bolero, son, danzón, and guajira, and was played in dance halls, on the radio, and in cabarets and social clubs. It was this traditional Cuban music that was played by the Buena Vista Social Club, a band put together by American musician Ry Cooder, who went to Cuba in 1997. This also marked a historic moment in music history. When the Buena Vista All Stars – A Night in Havana performs in Mumbai in early October, it will be carrying forward that same legacy: bringing audiences a living link to traditions of Cuban music that had once been silenced After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, with Fidel Castro becoming President, many cultural restrictions came into being. While the new government did not ban traditional music, they put heavy emphasis on new, revolutionary, and modern forms of culture. Traditional music was seen as “not aligned” with the new, revolutionary image of Cuba and was officially sidelined. This, sadly, resulted in many young and then famous musicians losing their livelihood — many of these wonderful musicians were out of work for forty years. The U.S. had also issued an embargo on all things Cuban, which meant that no music or art from that island reached America for decades. When Ry Cooder went to Cuba in 1997, he sought out to gather the best musicians from the old days. With the help of local musicians, he assembled a group of old timers and formed the Buena Vista Social Club band. He took them to the US, where they famously performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. A documentary film, The Buena Vista Social Club, was made and screened all over the world. Cuban music had finally reemerged, and a music essentially silenced for decades got its much-needed revival.   Ry Cooder also has an important India connection: he collaborated with Indian classical musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt on an album, A Meeting By The River, which won a Grammy award in 1994. Pandit V.M. Bhatt played a modified slide guitar that he calls the Mohan Veena. But while such collaborations were flourishing elsewhere, within Cuba, the story was very different. The clampdown on the arts after the revolution was severe, and the atmosphere for musicians was often hostile. In an interview with me for Rolling Stone India a few years ago, Arturo Sandoval, a famous jazz trumpet player, gave us a startling example. Sandoval, a Cuban, was living in Havana and serving in their army. One day, he was arrested and jailed for three months. His crime? Listening to jazz on his shortwave radio. Jazz was considered “imperialist music” and forbidden in Cuba. Arturo Sandoval was ultimately able to defect to the USA in the late 1980s. Today, he remains one of the most sought-after jazz musicians. Back in India, we have an interesting example of Begum Akhtar, the legendary ghazal singer. She was an established vocalist when she got married. But her husband deemed that women from good families didn’t perform in public. For almost ten years of her marriage, Begum Akhtar did not sing on stage. Finally, unable to take more of the isolation, she announced to her husband that “you can silence me, but the ghazal inside me will not be quiet any more”, a bold stance for the 1950s. Finally, she had her way — performing in public, recording several albums, and achieving national and international fame. These stories of Cuban maestros and Begum Akhtar show us something vital: that music and the arts will always find a way to survive and overcome the tyranny of repressive politics and negative social attitudes. While politics and prejudice may silence voices for a time, the spirit of music always outlasts them — and we are all much better off for it. Read More

Entertainment Set in the world’s oldest wine-making region, the festival unites young musicians from conflict-torn corners of the world to show how music can set the stage for open dialogue Deep in the cradle of the world’s oldest wine-making region, the Tsinandali Estate is enveloped by a courtyard of abstract face fountains, cloud-scattered skies, and the symphonic sounds of violin, cello, and piano bursting from every corner. Since 2019, this winery estate in Georgia’s Kakheti region has been the home ground of the Tsinandali Festival — a classical music event that has swiftly risen through the ranks to become a global contender in the philharmonic landscape.  Founded by George Ramishvili, Chairman of the Silk Road Group, along with Martin Engstroem and Avi Shoshani, co-founders of Switzerland’s legendary Verbier Festival, the Tsinandali Festival is a point of confluence for some of the world’s most celebrated classical musicians. It’s also meant to be a deliberate exercise in cultural diplomacy, bringing together artists from conflict-ridden Caucasus regions for a luminous celebration of music and merry-making.  Now in its seventh edition, this year’s lineup was no exception, featuring the likes of Chinese cellist Jing Zhao, French pianist Julien Quentin, Israeli string quartet Jerusalem Quartet, Belgian violinist Marc Bouchkov, Spanish cellist Pablo Ferrandez, Hungarian-British pianist and conductor András Schiff, and Russian piano prodigy Alexandra Dovgan. But perhaps the beating heart of the festival is its 80-plus–member Pan Caucasian Youth Orchestra (PCYO), a commendable effort that brings together and mentors young talents from eight countries fractured by political unrest. It’s a reminder of how, here, music becomes a shared language to navigate divisions and foster dialogue. “I think we are above the politics,” David Sakvarelidze, the festival’s General Director, tells Rolling Stone India. “We are spreading a message of peace by showing that people from so many nationalities can come together, on stage and in the audience.” As I wander through the sprawling grounds, it’s hard to disagree with this hypothesis. In the 19th century, this was the home of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, a poet, diplomat, and founder of Georgian Romanticism. Under his patronage, the estate emerged as a crossroads of Georgian and European art and intellect, hosting figures like French writer Alexandre Dumas and Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. As Georgia grapples with potential democratic erosions and uncertainty over its ascension into the European Union under the ruling Georgian Dream Party, the festival becomes a fitting stage to carry forward that diplomatic legacy.  Today, medieval Georgian brick architecture, a luminescent amphitheatre, and rolling greens cascade into warmly lit chambers that cocoon you like a cave. The conversations flow freely, and so does the locally made wine. Soft instrumental sounds seep out of the walls. It’s a place that stirs something within you, dissolving the distance between the senses and the soul. The performances, too, are an impressive feat of emotional kindling and cultural immersion. The amphitheatre, drenched in a deep red glow that shifted with the night, set the stage for my first taste of the festival’s programming — a mesmerising display by the Sukhishvili National Ballet of Georgia. The performance told the story of Georgia through a series of folk dances and instruments, complete with ornate headdresses, blades glinting against traditional garb, dancers gliding on the tips of their toes, and skyward leaps that drew gasps and claps before ending in reverent bows. The pacing was unlike what you might expect at a typical ballet, powered by percussive beats and accordion strains, the clash of swords and shields adding an entirely new sensory layer. Another standout performance came from a duet by Jing Zhao and Julien Quentin, who performed Claude Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in D Minor, selections from Felix Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words arranged by Alfredo Piatti, and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in D Minor. Their show vibrated with a nimble energy, moving fluidly between playful inflections and staccato bursts. A few days later, Jing Zhao — who commanded four different chamber performances — joined Marc Bouchkov and Uzbekistani pianist Behzod Abduraimov for a powerfully expressive performance that unfolded like a divine arc. Their rendition of Antonín Dvořák’s Piano Trio No. 4 in E Minor, “Dumky,” moved from melancholia and a sense of futility to an anguish that soared heavenward, the final note whispering like a last breath.  Then there was the 18-year-old Alexandra Dovgan, who claimed the stage with a poise far beyond her years. In a striking solo performance, she played Frédéric Chopin’s Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E-flat Major — a piece composed by Chopin as an assertion of his Polish identity during the height of tensions between Poland and Russia, giving her rendition a poignantly political edge.  What made the festival’s curation especially compelling was its commitment to showcasing the next generation of classical musicians, mixing legacy with new perspectives. This was perhaps most evident in a solo recital by 15-year-old Tsotne Zedginidze, a piano prodigy who hails from one of Georgia’s most illustrious musical lineages. Playing Johannes Brahms’ Piano Sonata No. 3 and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 28 alongside his original compositions, his technique embodied a kind of breathlessness that felt spunky yet respectful.  Speaking about what drew him to these particular pieces right after his performance, the young pianist explained that the abstract nature of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 28 made it feel “very modernistic, back then and even today.” He also reflected on Brahms’ Sonata No. 3, written when the composer was just 18, a connection that perhaps mirrors Zedginidze’s own ambitions at 15. The PCYO’s performances carried forward that same spirit of restless ambition. Hailing from countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan (with an Italian viola player thrown in the mix), the group was shepherded by Italian maestro Gianandrea Noseda — one of the world’s leading conductors, who also serves as the festival’s music director. Accompanied by Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky, they opened with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, a

Entertainment The New York-based Indo-American artist discusses his devotional rock album Indigo and why Gen Z’s shift away from alcohol culture could transform festival experiences ShiShi live in concert. Photo: Adam Schneberg In spring 2022, New York-based artist ShiShi, aka Aasheesh Paliwal, began crafting what would become Indigo, an album that defies easy categorization. Part rock odyssey, part devotional offering, the record represents an ambitious attempt by the Indo-American musician-producer to smuggle ancient Vedic wisdom into mainstream consciousness. ShiShi, who found success with his 2017 single “Aarti” and has spent over a decade as a DJ, embarked on this project with clear intentions. “My vision was to Trojan-horse the wisdom of the Vedas and spiritual knowledge from India into something accessible to the mainstream, something that didn’t come off as overtly ‘new age,’” he explains. The result is an album rooted in Hindu philosophy that moves from vulnerability to transcendence, its artwork symbolized by the indigo color of enlightenment. The technical approach behind Indigo reveals ShiShi’s commitment to creating music that operates on multiple levels. Every track is tuned to 432 Hz, a frequency associated with healing and the heart chakra in certain traditions. “I just adjusted the tuning in Ableton from 440 Hz down to 432 Hz,” he notes. “The result is that the music sounds slightly flat compared to the standard, but it’s imperceptible to most listeners.” The album unfolds as what ShiShi describes as a “hero’s journey,” beginning with the vulnerable introspection of “Loser” (which references his upbringing in China) and expanding into direct spiritual dialogue with tracks like “Kali,” featuring Los Angeles singer-songwriter Shilpa, and the death-embracing kirtan-inspired meditation “When It’s My Time,” first released in 2023. He says, “As the album unfolds, the music reflects an expanding state of consciousness. By the time we reach ‘Kali,’ it’s like having a direct conversation with the goddess.” Sonically, there’s a seemingly nostalgic rock influence with a bit of electronic music borrowed from his foundation as a DJ. It’s perhaps a nod to keep at least something familiar from his 2022 dancefloor-driven album Chrysalis and the 2025 collaborative album BAHÉ with singer-songwriter Aditya Rao. ShiShi’s decade-long meditation practice, which began with a life-changing Vipassana retreat at the age of 26, has fundamentally altered his creative process as a musician. “It feels less like I’m making the music and more like I’m a channel or conduit pulling it in from a bigger space,” he reflects. “In Vedic tradition, you could call that Brahman—the big self—or Atman.” Traditional Indian instruments—bansuri, sitar, tabla, and harmonium—flow through the record, carrying what ShiShi calls “spiritual associations for thousands of years.” While his earlier work more overtly showcased his Indian identity through Bollywood-dance music fusions, Indigo takes a subtler, rock-driven approach. “Now, I don’t feel the need to make that an overt statement. What matters to me is sharing the wisdom of the Vedas.” ShiShi. Photo: Adam Schneberg He sees himself as part of a broader movement of musicians creating what he calls “modern devotional” music—a reflection of “humanity’s rising consciousness.” This optimism about the future of meditative and spiritual music is connected to trends he’s observed over time. ShiShi says, “The industry is heavily built around selling alcohol, but Gen Z doesn’t drink as much, and people want deeper, more meaningful experiences, not just escapism.” He points to recent developments like Live Nation’s first alcohol-free event as harbingers of change. His ultimate goal? Bringing this fusion of music and meditation to mainstream festival stages. “I’d love to bring this to festivals like Coachella, because it can change how people experience music.” The rise of conscious festivals worldwide and the growing appetite for spiritual content in music suggests ShiShi’s timing might be perfect. He says, “As more people wake up and seek spiritual knowledge and truth, more of the industry will respond. I believe it’s heading to the biggest stages.” In the midst of that, bringing this music to India would represent a profound homecoming. “India is the motherland of so much of the spiritual wisdom that inspires me, and it’s also my heritage. It would be a full-circle moment,” he says. Plans are already in motion — he reveals the team is “in talks about putting together a small tour there next year.” Read More

Entertainment Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is set to return as the host of the Filmfare Awards for the first time since 2008. The 70th edition of the prestigious awards ceremony will take place on October 11, 2025, at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Khan will co-host the event alongside actor Maniesh Paul and filmmaker Karan Johar. Shah Rukh Khan set to host 70th Filmfare Award after 17 years Filmfare made the announcement on their official Instagram handle, describing Khan as, “The Superstar, The Icon, The Enigma.” The post read, “Hold your hearts, because the one and only #ShahRukhKhan is making his way to co-host the most awaited #70thHyundaiFilmfareAwards2025withGujaratTourism, happening on October 11 at Eka Arena, Ahmedabad.” Khan has previously hosted the Filmfare Awards on multiple occasions, including memorable stints with fellow actor Saif Ali Khan in 2003 and 2004. He returned as co-host with Karan Johar in 2007. The 53rd Filmfare Awards in 2008 were the last time Shah Rukh was the host, when he shared the stage with Saif, Karan, and Vidya Balan. Known for his wit and charm, Khan’s hosting has been a highlight of the ceremony over the years. The 2025 Filmfare Awards will be held in Gujarat for the first time, following a memorandum of understanding signed between the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) and Worldwide Media Private Limited in Gandhinagar. The event is expected to bring significant attention to the state’s growing prominence in the film industry. As the date approaches, anticipation is building for a night of glamour, laughter, and celebration of Indian cinema’s finest talents. With Shah Rukh Khan back at the helm, the 70th Filmfare Awards promise to be a memorable occasion for fans and industry professionals alike. Also Read : Kroll Celebrity Brand Valuation 2024: Ranveer Singh stays ahead of Shah Rukh Khan with brand value of Rs. 1942 cr; Alia Bhatt climbs to 4th spot; Ananya Panday makes a DRAMATIC jump from 46th to 25th position Tags : 70th Filmfare Awards, 70th Filmfare Awards 2025, Bollywood, Bollywood News, Host, Instagram, Instagram India, News, Set, Shah Rukh Khan, Social Media, SRK 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 Rajiv Rai made a grand comeback this year with the murder mystery Zora. It was released in cinemas on August 8 and now it’ll premiere on YouTube tomorrow, that is, October 2. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, the veteran filmmaker explained his thought process behind the digital premiere. EXCLUSIVE: Rajiv Rai opens up on Zora’s digital premiere and whether Sitaare Zameen Par’s YouTube release motivated him: “Not releasing Zora on YouTube because of Aamir Khan but it gave me confidence. I had NO choice”; CONFIRMS Zora Zorawar to skip theatrical release Rajiv Rai began by saying, “I was not very successful in doing a proper release for Zora because it is a small film. I didn’t have a lot of budget to advertise it or put in a lot of money. Moreover, 4-5 films released on the same day. As a result, PVR had a tough time allotting shows.” He further said, “Since the time I was making the film, I planned it for YouTube. I knew no OTT platform would buy the rights as it’s a non-star cast film. They only buy when there’s a cast. Without a famous actor in the film, they would want to know the story. They would want to see the film. They would ask you a hundred and million questions. They feel very insecure. Hence, I never approached any OTT ever.” Recently, Aamir Khan also skipped an OTT release of his film Sitaare Zameen Par and released it straight on YouTube. Did Aamir Khan’s decision motivate him to take the plunge? Rajiv Rai replied in the negative and added, “For the last 4-5 years, it was always on my mind that I’ll put it on YouTube. But I didn’t know how to do it. So, when Aamir Khan released Sitaare Zameen Par, it gave me a lot of encouragement and confidence. I was going to do it anyway. But if I had done it, it wouldn’t have made news the way Aamir Khan made news. However, he made a last-minute decision. At first, he stated that he was not releasing the film on any OTT platform. Then, he immediately released the film on OTT. YouTube is like an OTT platform. So, I don’t know what was in his mind, but I am glad he did. Hence, I am not releasing Zora on YouTube because of him. I had no choice; I made it for YouTube and to establish my channel.” While Aamir Khan charges Rs. 100 to watch Sitaare Zameen Par on YouTube, it won’t be the case with Zora. Rajiv Rai revealed, “It’ll be available for free. There won’t be any cost for watching Zora on YouTube.” Zora interestingly ends with a promise of a sequel, named Zora Zorawar. It’ll release on January 1 and Rajiv Rai revealed that it won’t arrive in cinemas at all. He stated, “I’ll release part 2 straight to YouTube. Theatre mein toh koi aata nahin hai picture dekhne. Then what would I achieve or prove by releasing part 2 in cinemas? To release the film in cinemas, one has to go through the Censor process etc. It is a waste of time and money.” Joking that “I have ended up becoming a YouTube director,” Rajiv Rai also said, “I am a big director and yet, I decided to make a Rs. 2 crore film. If you don’t spend money on publicity, nobody comes in. I was not interested in it. I wanted to experiment with this platform. Hence, I decided to make a small-budget film. A lot of people dissuaded me from doing it, citing ‘You have a big name’. But I was not ready to take any risk. I didn’t care what people were saying.” He also exulted, “Though it was originally planned for YouTube, I have done a Dolby mix and I have shot it in cinemascope format. Everybody does that as we all know we want our film to look cinematic. When you see Zora on YouTube, you’ll realize that it’s available in 4k. Dolby mix won’t be of any use (for YouTube viewing), but I still went ahead in case some streaming giant wants to premiere it. I should be ready with the soundtrack.” Speaking of future plans, “Now, I don’t want to make films for cinemas. I am not going to take risks. I don’t even go for collaborations. Moreover, people don’t offer films to me as a director; they never have.” He signed off by stating, “I don’t care what people say. I am releasing the film on YouTube. Jisko dekhna hai, woh dekh lega. Jisko nahin dekhna hoga, woh nahin dekhe. I am not here to prove a point. Whatever I could do, I have done it. I thank my audience and I thank Bollywood.” Also Read: Rajiv Rai on the ‘Duniya Haseeno Ka Mela’ girl: “She is Bhanu Khan, she was an assistant to Rekha Chinni Prakash” More Pages: Zora Box Office Collection , Zora Movie Review 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 Actress and wellness advocate Shamita Shetty’s journey into entrepreneurship began unexpectedly. What started as a search for a clean and tasty snack turned into a new venture, sparked by a simple question she posed to her social media followers. Shamita Shetty launches her own healthy snack brand: “It’s rare to find something that ticks all the boxes” Among the many responses, one stood out from Swati Soni, a home chef and founder of Meve Jars, who shared a sample of her handcrafted nut spreads. Just one taste was enough to impress her. The spread, made with 73% real nuts and no preservatives, offered rich flavour with clean ingredients something she hadn’t come across in stores. She quickly realized it was more than just a snack; it was a brand she wanted to be involved with. Shamita explained, “It’s rare to find something that ticks all the boxes: clean ingredients, nourishing, and it tastes incredible. After I tried it, I just kept thinking about it, and a simple endorsement deal didn’t feel right. I realised I didn’t just want to be a face on a poster, I wanted to get involved and help grow the business. That’s why I reached out with a bigger idea to join her as a co-founder and build this brand together.” For Swati Soni, whose brand began as a kitchen experiment, the call from Shamita was surreal. “When Shamita called and said she wanted to be my partner, I almost couldn’t believe it,” Swati admitted. “She just got it. She understood what Meve Jars is about; real food, clean ingredients, no compromises. All I ever wanted was to share what I make with people, and with her by my side, that’s becoming a reality in a way I never expected.” This collaboration brings together two women with a shared goal—to make healthy snacking more accessible and enjoyable. While Swati focuses on creating tasty, nutrient-rich products, Shamita lends her voice and experience as a wellness advocate to help the brand reach a wider audience. In a market increasingly focused on healthier and transparent food choices, Meve Jars aims to provide a tasty yet wholesome snacking experience. This partnership goes beyond business it seeks to expand the brand’s reach and connect with a community of mindful eaters who don’t have to compromise on flavour. Also Read : Shamita Shetty reveals career struggles; says, “After Mohabbatein, four of my films never released… I still reach out to producers and casting directors for work” 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 Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff is set to make his Hollywood debut in an upcoming action film alongside Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone and Thai martial arts star Tony Jaa. According to a report by Pinkvilla, Amazon MGM is in talks to develop a pan-world project that would feature the three action stars together for the first time. Tiger Shroff is set to team up with Sylvester Stallone and Tony Jaa for global Hollywood action film: Report A source revealed, “Amazon MGM is developing an action film which has the possibility of bringing together Sylvester Stallone, Tony Jaa and Tiger Shroff. It’s a global project, and the idea is to make it in the format of a multi-lingual film.” Discussions have already begun, and insiders claim that all three actors have expressed interest in coming on board. The source added, “The director of the film could be an Indian name only, and the details have been kept under wraps for now. Tiger Shroff is excited to team up with his idol, Sylvester Stallone in this one of its kind Pan-World action spectacle.” The untitled film is being designed as a large-scale global spectacle, blending Hollywood’s trademark scale for action with the intensity of Asian cinema. For Sylvester, who previously appeared in a cameo in Kambakkht Ishq (2009), this project could be his first full-fledged feature tied to the Indian film industry. Tiger Shroff has previously expressed his admiration for Stallone, stating, “I read recently they are remaking Rambo in India. Great character. Hope they don’t wreck it.” This upcoming collaboration marks a significant milestone in Shroff’s career, bringing together international action icons for a groundbreaking cinematic experience. Meanwhile, Tiger was last seen in Baaghi 4, directed by A. Harsha, which released earlier this month. The film also starred Sanjay Dutt, Sonam Bajwa, Harnaaz Sandhu, and Shreyas Talpade in key roles. Also Read : Jackie Shroff beams with pride on Tiger Shroff’s risky stunts; says, “I feel immense pride when I am recognised as Tiger Shroff’s father” 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 Bollywood’s global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas made an ethereal appearance at a Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai yesterday, effortlessly blending cultural reverence with contemporary elegance. The actress, who’s currently in India for a Bvlgari event, took time out to attend the puja festivities hosted by the Mukerji family, and her choice of attire was nothing short of a sartorial triumph. Priyanka Chopra’s Rs 32.8k silk outfit is the festive fashion moment we’ve been waiting for! Styled by Ami Patel, Priyanka donned a tunic set by artisanal label Sobariko, a look that spoke volumes of understated glamour and traditional craftsmanship. Rendered in a rich ultramarine hue, the set featured a pure silk tunic with delicate Benarasi woven detailing on the front and back yoke as well as the sleeves — a nod to classic Indian textile heritage elevated with modern minimalism. A Study in Rich Simplicity The matching straight-fit pants, also in silk, came alive with brocade detailing at the hem, adding just the right amount of shimmer to the silhouette. Floating over the ensemble was a featherlight organza dupatta, also touched with brocade — a wispy layer that danced subtly with movement, offering both texture and tradition. This luxe yet pared-down set, priced at Rs 32,890, proved to be the ideal festive pick — demure, decadent, and deeply rooted in Indian craftsmanship. The Finishing Touch True to her global-meets-local aesthetic, Priyanka grounded her look with Fizzy Goblet’s juttis — specifically the Champagne Super Nova pair, valued at Rs 3,490. These embellished flats provided a subtle sparkle without overshadowing the richness of the silk, and more importantly, respected the sacredness of the barefoot puja ritual, while offering comfort and style. Beauty Notes Her hair was sleekly parted and pulled back into a bun — a classic, temple-ready choice — letting her radiant skin and delicate bindi take center stage. Statement earrings added just the right hint of festive charm, and her dewy makeup, featuring a soft rose lip and defined brows, gave her a glow that mirrored the divine energy of the puja surroundings. In an era of over-styled puja looks, Priyanka Chopra’s ensemble stood out for its simplicity and reverence, yet didn’t compromise on luxury. It was a perfect example of how fashion can be both celebratory and culturally respectful — a hallmark of Chopra’s ever-evolving style journey. Also Read: Priyanka Chopra pays a surprise visit to Durga Puja pandal organized by Kajol and Rani Mukerji’s families, poses with Ayan Mukerji and Tanishaa Mukerji Tags : Ami Patel, Beauty, Designer, Durga Puja, Durga Puja 2025, Fashion, Features, Fizzy Goblet, Lifestyle, Look Details, Makeup, Outfit, Priyanka Chopra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sobariko, Style, Stylist, Stylists, Tunic Set 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