Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has tested positive for the coronavirus, a Mumbai city authority official told AFP on Sunday, just a day after her actor father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan said he was in hospital with the infectious disease.
Her eight-year-old daughter, Aaradhya, was also COVID-19 positive, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
Bachchan's actor son Abhishek, Rai's husband, said he too was positive but that both their cases were mild.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan took the Miss World crown in 1994 and made her acting debut in the late 1990s.
She went on to become one of the most famous Bollywood faces abroad as well as in India and has been a regular on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. She married Abhishek Bachchan in 2007.
The elder Bachchan, 77 -- idolised in India and affectionately known as "Big B" -- has a more than four-decade-long career in the film industry.
He was voted "actor of the millennium" in a BBC online poll in 1999 and became the first Indian actor to gain a lookalike at London's Madame Tussauds waxworks museum.
India on Sunday reported its highest single-day virus tally of more than 28,600 cases, for a nationwide total of just under 850,000 infections.
The nation of 1.3 billion people is the third-worst infected in the world after the United States and Brazil.
Kantara: Chapter 1, the much-awaited prequel to the 2022 blockbuster, releases in cinemas on 2 October 2025.
Poster unveiled on Rishab Shetty’s 42nd birthday shows him in an intense warrior avatar.
The film explores the divine origins of Panjurli and Guliga, expanding the Kantara mythology.
Massive action sequences filmed with 3,000 participants over 50 days make it one of India’s biggest productions.
Rishab Shetty gave fans a fierce first glimpse into Kantara: Chapter 1 on his 42nd birthday, unveiling a new poster that shows him in full warrior mode. The upcoming prequel to the 2022 Kannada hit Kantara is now officially set to release on 2 October 2025. Directed and headlined once again by Shetty, the film is expected to dive deep into the spiritual and mythological roots of the original story.
Shetty returns to direct and lead the Kantara prequel
Following the resounding success of Kantara, Rishab Shetty returns to both direct and star in the film’s prequel. Titled Kantara: Chapter 1, the film will trace the origin story of the forest deity Panjurli and its protector Guliga, diving into the lore that shaped the mystical world introduced in the original. The new poster shows Shetty charging through fire, shield pierced with arrows, eyes blazing, and axe in hand, a visual that has already sparked frenzied reactions online.
Fans have flooded social media with praise and speculation, with hashtags like #KantaraChapter1 trending across platforms. Many described the poster as “goosebump-inducing,” while others celebrated Shetty’s birthday by calling him “the pride of Kannada cinema.”
Kantara poster (Image Source: X) Print-160
Massive battle sequence shot with 3,000 people
The makers have spared no effort in scaling up the cinematic experience. One of the biggest highlights of Kantara: Chapter 1 is an elaborate war sequence shot over 45–50 days on a 25-acre set. The sequence involved more than 500 trained fighters and over 3,000 participants, making it one of the most ambitious action scenes ever filmed in Indian cinema. Both Indian and international stunt experts collaborated on the project, ensuring the sequence lives up to the mythology it portrays.
Todor Lazarov, who choreographed action scenes in RRR, has been roped in to design the stunts. The crew, however, faced challenges during production, including accidents, floods, and even the tragic deaths of two cast members, Kalabhavan Niju and Rakesh Poojary, due to health issues earlier this year.
Hombale Films announces multilingual global release
Produced by Vijay Kiragandur under the Hombale Films banner, the studio behind hits like KGF and Salaar, Kantara: Chapter 1 will release in seven languages: Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, and English. The team is aiming for a global reach, banking on the spiritual intensity and regional depth that made the first film a crossover success.
The original Kantara won multiple awards, including National Awards for Best Actor and Best Sound Design. It was praised for its storytelling rooted in coastal Karnataka’s Bhoota Kola tradition. The prequel promises to build on that legacy with even greater visual ambition and cultural depth.
While detailed plot points are under wraps, Kantara: Chapter 1 will focus on the spiritual foundations of the first film’s mythology. The teaser and trailer are expected to drop later this year, and with fans already counting down to the 2 October release, anticipation is sky-high.
The film’s music is composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, and cinematography is by Arvind S. Kashyap. Actor Jisshu Sengupta also joins the cast in a pivotal role. With its mix of mysticism, action, and cultural storytelling, Kantara: Chapter 1 is poised to be one of the most awaited films of 2025.
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Zayn Malik shares a moody preview of his upcoming song Fuchsia Sea
Zayn Malik previewed a new track, Fuchsia Sea, on Instagram, touching on racism he experienced during his One Direction years.
“They still laughed at the Asian,” he raps, alluding to feeling othered despite success.
Malik was the only South Asian member of the band, which included Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and the late Liam Payne.
The track marks a rare public reflection on the racial dynamics behind his 2015 departure from the group.
Zayn Malik is turning to music to process the discrimination he says he experienced during his time with One Direction. On Saturday, 5 July, the 32-year-old singer previewed a raw and emotional rap song titled Fuchsia Sea, sharing a clip and lyrics on Instagram that many fans believe directly address racism he faced as the only South Asian member of the global boy band.
In the verse, Malik raps: “I worked hard in a White band, and they still laughed at the Asian.” The line immediately sparked intense conversation online, with listeners pointing out how it echoed long-suspected tensions about racial identity and representation during his tenure in One Direction.
Zayn Malik attends the Off-White fashion show during the September 2024 Getty Images
Zayn Malik lyrics reference race and exclusion
The lyrics Malik shared are among his most direct yet, touching on themes of alienation, generational struggle, and identity. In Fuchsia Sea, he paints a picture of emotional burden and resilience, rapping:
“Got my back against the wall so much they think I got a brick fascination... I’m a convert to the concert, and I did that for inflation… Left a blue mark on a white flag, then used blood for their painting.”
While Malik has previously opened up about mental health and needing space from fame, this is one of the first times he has publicly linked his departure from One Direction to experiences of racism and marginalisation. The lyrics suggest that while he contributed to the band’s global rise, he often felt side-lined because of his ethnicity.
Zayn Malik on InstagramInstagram screengrab
Fans rally around Malik’s message
The track preview struck a chord particularly with South Asian fans, many of whom have long felt that Malik’s race was glossed over during One Direction’s peak. Online reactions ranged from gratitude to reflection, with many calling the lyrics “long overdue” and “painfully relatable.”
For British Asian listeners, Malik’s words were especially significant, as representation in mainstream Western pop music remains rare. “He said what we’ve been feeling for years,” one user wrote on X. “Zayn’s experience mirrors what so many of us go through in workplaces that were never built for us.”
Fans react to Zayn Malik's song Twitter Screengrab
Reflecting on One Direction and Liam Payne’s passing
Malik’s musical revelation arrives just months after he revisited his boy band roots. During a March concert in Mexico City, he performed Night Changes, a One Direction song, for the first time in a decade. The performance was emotionally charged, with Malik telling the crowd: “I almost cried.”
Later that year, Malik reunited with Styles, Tomlinson, and Horan at Liam Payne’s funeral in November 2024, their first public appearance as a group since he left in 2015. Payne passed away unexpectedly at 31. Malik had previously honoured Payne at a show by dedicating his solo ballad It’s You to his late bandmate.
Former One Direction band member Zayn Malik leaves following the funeral of singer Liam PayneGetty Images
Fuchsia Sea marks a turning point for Zayn Malik
Though the full track is yet to be released, Fuchsia Sea signals a more personal and unfiltered direction in Malik’s music. It’s a clear departure from his earlier solo work, which leaned heavily into R&B and pop.
This time, the focus isn’t fame or relationships, but identity. And by addressing his past with unflinching honesty, Malik seems ready to reclaim his voice on his own terms.
One Direction Band members Getty Images
Whether Fuchsia Sea becomes a viral hit or not, it has already succeeded in sparking long-overdue conversations about race, fame, and belonging in the pop world.
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Saif Ali Khan loses £1.4 billion crore royal inheritance after Madhya Pradesh High Court declares it enemy property
Madhya Pradesh High Court rejects Saif Ali Khan’s plea in the long-running Bhopal royal property dispute.
The estate, worth £1.4 billion (₹15,000 crore), has been declared “enemy property” due to links with Pakistan.
Trial court verdict naming Saif and family as heirs overturned; retrial ordered.
Government may soon initiate takeover of key Pataudi family properties in Bhopal.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dealt a severe legal setback to actor Saif Ali Khan and his family by striking down a previous court ruling that recognised them as legal heirs to a sprawling £1.4 billion (₹15,000 crore) royal estate in Bhopal. The court declared the property as “enemy property,” a classification that allows the government to take control of assets once owned by individuals who migrated to Pakistan.
Saif Ali Khan’s royal inheritance in Bhopal declared enemy property after court verdictGetty Images
High court overturns 2000 verdict favouring Saif’s family
In its latest order, the High Court dismissed a trial court ruling from 2000 that had recognised Saif Ali Khan, his mother Sharmila Tagore, and his sisters Soha and Saba as rightful inheritors of the estate of Sajida Sultan, daughter of Nawab Hamidullah Khan. The challenge came from other descendants of the Nawab, who argued that the property distribution should have followed Muslim Personal Law, not state-backed recognition. The court has now ordered a retrial, directing the lower court to conclude proceedings within one year.
Saif Ali Khan with family Getty Images
Declared ‘enemy property’ over Pakistan connection
The dispute took a sharp turn in 2014 when the Custodian of Enemy Property notified that several Pataudi properties in Bhopal, including the Noor-Us-Sabah Palace and Flag Staff House, would be classified under the Enemy Property Act. This decision stemmed from the fact that Saif’s great-grandmother, Abida Sultan, sister of Sajida Sultan, migrated to Pakistan post-Partition, renouncing her Indian citizenship. Under the Act, properties linked to such individuals can be acquired by the Indian government.
An exterior view of the Noor Us Sabah Palace now listed under enemy property Getty Images
Saif’s challenge fails as deadline passes
Saif Ali Khan had managed to secure a temporary stay on the government’s move in 2015. However, the court lifted the stay on 13 December 2024 and gave the family 30 days to appeal to the appellate tribunal. As no claim was filed within the stipulated time, the properties are now eligible for acquisition by the government. The Bhopal district administration may soon begin the takeover process.
Saif Ali Khan loses claim to Pataudi family properties as court cites Pakistan connectionGetty Images
Legacy of the Pataudi family under scrutiny
The estate at the heart of the dispute includes some of Bhopal’s most valuable landmarks, not just in monetary terms but also in heritage. This legal turn of events has reignited debate around the Enemy Property Act and how it continues to affect Indian families with cross-border ties. For Saif Ali Khan, whose royal lineage has long been part of his public identity, this verdict could be a deeply personal and legal setback.
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Ranveer Singh in a still from Lootera that captured his most restrained performance
Ranveer’s subtle performance in Lootera marked a major shift from his usual high-energy roles.
The 1950s-set romantic drama became a career milestone for the actor.
His restrained, emotionally complex portrayal earned long-term critical acclaim.
The film showcased a successful collaboration with director Vikramaditya Motwane.
As Dhurandhar builds buzz, Lootera reminds us of Ranveer’s range.
Twelve years ago, Ranveer Singh surprised audiences with Lootera, a period romance that asked him to do something unfamiliar: stay still. Set in 1950s Bengal and directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, the film gave Ranveer the space to deliver one of his most subdued and mature performances. No outbursts. No spectacle. Just quiet heartbreak.
Lootera released in 2013 and marked a stylistic shift for Ranveer Singh Prime Video
Here’s why his role as Varun still holds up more than a decade later:
1. A rare lesson in stillness
Known for loud roles and louder screen presence, Ranveer turned things down, way down in Lootera. His portrayal of a soft-spoken, guilt-ridden thief proved that less can sometimes be more. His silences did the heavy lifting, letting emotion simmer just beneath the surface.
Ranveer Singh’s role as Varun showed he could command the screen without saying much
2. He took a risk and it worked
At a time when most rising stars would double down on mass-appealing hits, Ranveer picked a slower, more poetic film. It was a gamble, especially for someone fresh off commercial successes. But Lootera earned him serious critical respect and broadened perceptions of what he could do as an actor.
The period romance Lootera became a turning point in Ranveer Singh’s career
3. An emotionally layered performance
Varun isn’t a typical romantic lead. He’s torn, flawed, and emotionally guarded. Ranveer managed to convey all that complexity with minimal dialogue, relying instead on body language and micro-expressions that hinted at heartbreak and inner conflict.
Ranveer Singh’s performance in Lootera was praised for its emotional restraint
4. A director who brought out his quieter side
Vikramaditya Motwane’s direction played a big role in shaping the performance. There’s a quiet rhythm to the film, and Ranveer adapted beautifully to it. The collaboration allowed him to step into a world that demanded introspection over intensity, and he delivered.
Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha starred in the romantic drama set in 1950s BengalYoutube/Altt Balaji Motion Pictures
5. A role that aged well
Not all performances hold up years later, but Lootera does. While it wasn’t a box office juggernaut, the film has since found cult love. Ranveer’s turn as Varun remains one of his most respected, proof that charisma doesn’t always need volume.
Lootera’s legacy has grown over the years despite its modest box office runYoutube/Altt Balaji Motion Pictures
What’s next?
Twelve years on, Lootera continues to be a defining moment in Ranveer Singh’s career. And with his next film, Dhurandhar, already drawing attention for a darker transformation, it’s clear the actor is still full of surprises.
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AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer smile together in viral selfie
AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer will collaborate on the soundtrack for Ramayana: Part One, directed by Nitesh Tiwari.
Rahman shared a selfie with Zimmer on Instagram, captioned “With @hanszimmer #ramayanamovie”.
The photo sparked a wave of excitement online, with fans and celebrities calling it a “historic moment”.
Ramayana: Part One stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi, and is set for a Diwali 2026 release.
AR Rahman’s latest Instagram post has set the tone for what might be one of the most ambitious film music projects in recent Indian cinema. The Oscar-winning composer shared a selfie with legendary Hollywood music producer Hans Zimmer, confirming their collaboration on Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part One. The picture quickly went viral, as fans celebrated the rare coming together of two globally acclaimed composers for a single Indian film.
AR Rahman confirms collaboration with Hans Zimmer on InstagramInstagram/arrahman
Music fans celebrate Rahman–Zimmer team-up
The image, shared on 4 July, featured Rahman smiling beside Zimmer, with the simple caption: “With @hanszimmer #ramayanamovie.” But the response was anything but simple. Social media platforms lit up with comments from fans, celebrities, and fellow musicians. Singer Armaan Malik commented “Legends”, while actor Lauren Gottlieb called it “iconic”. One fan summed up the mood online, calling it “the frame of the decade.” Others hailed it as a historic cultural crossover. “ARR x HZ. The frame everyone will remember,” read one comment, while another declared, “Two titans cooking up something colossal.”
Helmed by Dangal director Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part One is shaping up to be a high-budget adaptation of the Indian epic. The first look, released on 3 July, featured Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and KGF star Yash as Ravana, earning praise for its grandeur and top-notch VFX by Oscar-winning studio DNEG. The film also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The sneak peek hinted at an intense visual and narrative experience, portraying the Ram-Ravana war as a battle of cosmic proportions.
Ramayana: Part One is produced by Prime Focus Studios’ Namit Malhotra and co-produced by Yash. The film is scheduled for a global release in Diwali 2026, with Part Two expected to follow in Diwali 2027. With the Zimmer–Rahman musical partnership added to the mix, expectations are now sky-high. As one user wrote: “Close your eyes and you're in another world. This soundtrack is going to be unreal.”