After the stupendous success of Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017), one of the most successful onscreen pairs of Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar is returning with their third film together.
Yes, both the actors have given their nod to star in producer Dinesh Vijan’s upcoming production venture Bala. The comic-caper stars Khurrana as a man who is losing his hair prematurely and Bhumi as a small-town dusky girl dealing with a society obsessed with fair skin.
The film, which is expected to hit the shooting floor early in 2019, will be directed by filmmaker Amar Kaushik who shot to fame after helming one of the most commercially successful films of 2018, Stree.
When producer Dinesh Vijan was contacted, he confirmed the news. “Through their journey, the film impresses on the fact that most of us are usually attracted to outward beauty and don’t go beyond that to understand the real person. That’s one of the reasons so many relationships are falling apart today,” said Vijan.
“It’s a hilarious story but at the same time, it makes you think. The two characters are very interesting and easy to relate to, so is their milieu,” added the filmmaker.
Meanwhile, Ayushmann Khurrana is presently shooting for his next film Dreamgirl. Bhumi, on the other hand, is looking forward to the release of Abhishek Chaubey’s dacoit-drama Sonchiriya.
The singer jokingly texted Clairo saying, "Let's f**k her up," sparking an online frenzy
Why Charli XCX jokingly declared war on Peppa Pig after one viral comment
Highlights
What started as a playful celebrity game has turned into one of the internet's most unexpected viral moments, with Charli XCX jokingly threatening to "f**k up" Peppa Pig after the beloved cartoon character appeared to dismiss singer Clairo.
The exchange quickly spread across social media, drawing reactions from fans and fellow musicians, while turning an unlikely clash between a pop star and a fictional children's character into a trending talking point.
Peppa Pig's viral remark sparked the joke
The playful exchange began during Peppa Pig's appearance in Pitchfork's Over/Under game, where the animated character rated a selection of music artists.
While expressing admiration for acts including PinkPantheress and The Beatles, Peppa responded to Clairo by saying, "I don't know her," a line widely recognised as a reference to Mariah Carey's famous response when asked about Jennifer Lopez.
The remark, accompanied by a knowing glance at the camera, quickly gained traction online.
Charli XCX rushed to Clairo's defence
After seeing the clip, Charli XCX privately messaged Clairo, writing, "Let's f**k her up," alongside a screenshot of the viral post.
Clairo later shared the exchange on social media, prompting thousands of reactions from fans, many of whom responded with pig and bacon-themed jokes.
PinkPantheress, whom Peppa had praised in the original video, also joined the conversation, posting a message supporting Clairo.
As the exchange continued, Clairo responded to the growing attention with humour, replying to posts before eventually telling followers, "ok that's enoughhhhh lolllllllllll."
Some fans joked that the viral moment was the perfect opportunity for the singer to announce new music, though Clairo replied that she did not have anything ready to share.
Her most recent album, Charm, was released in 2024, with its accompanying tour concluding in 2025.
Charli XCX keeps her focus on new music
While the online joke continued to gather momentum, Charli XCX did not publicly add to the exchange.
Instead, the singer has been focusing on promoting her upcoming album, Music, Fashion, Film, which is scheduled for release on July 24.
Although fans speculated that one of the track titles could be a playful nod to the viral exchange, there has been no indication that the album references the light-hearted social media moment.