Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
Netflix has given fans a tantalising glimpse into the upcoming fourth season of Bridgerton, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The sneak peek, shared on February 14, gives us behind-the-scenes moments and fresh footage from the new episodes, which are currently in production. The season will centre on Benedict Bridgerton played by Luke Thompson, the free-spirited second son of the Bridgerton family, as he navigates love and societal expectations. His story takes a dramatic turn when he encounters the enigmatic “Lady in Silver,” Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha, at a lavish masquerade ball hosted by his mother.
The teaser also introduces three new characters: Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung) and her daughters, Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao) and Posy Li (Isabella Wei), who are set to stir up the marriage market. Familiar faces will also return, including Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton, Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, and Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton. Fans of Penelope and Colin will be pleased to see them back, with a still image hinting at their growing family.
While the teaser doesn’t reveal much about Lady Whistledown’s role this season, it does promise plenty of drama and romance. The season is inspired by Julia Quinn’s third book in the series, An Offer From a Gentleman, which reimagines the classic Cinderella tale. Showrunner Jess Brownell has hinted at unexpected twists, and Luke Thompson has expressed excitement about the new direction for Benedict’s character, including his exploration of queerness, a departure from the books that showrunner Brownell previously stated allows Benedict to be "true to himself."
Benedict Bridgerton’s journey takes an unexpected turn—what surprises await in the new season?Instagram/bridgertonnetflix
The trailer also brings to us the show’s signature opulence, with elaborate costumes, stunning sets, and a decadent masquerade ball. Benedict and Sophie’s chemistry is palpable as they share moments of quiet intimacy and dance under the stars. Queen Charlotte played by Golda Rosheuvel is also shown presiding over the season’s social scene, hinting at the grand spectacle to come.
One lingering question is whether Benedict’s journey of self-discovery, particularly regarding his sexuality, will continue. In Season 3, the show introduced a storyline in which he explored his queerness, something absent from the books. Fans are eager to see if the series will expand on this theme or take a different approach.
Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) prepares for another season of high society drama and intrigueInstagram/bridgertonnetflix
Another key mystery remains: when will Season 4 debut? Netflix has yet to announce a release date, though filming is expected to wrap up in April. Past seasons have taken anywhere from four to 14 months to premiere after production ends, so fans may need to wait a while longer.
In the meantime, the teaser has sparked excitement, giving us a taste of the romance, intrigue, and lavish storytelling that have made Bridgerton a global phenomenon. As the cast and crew continue their work, viewers can only speculate about the twists and turns that await in the ton. One thing is certain: the wait will be worth it!
Rana Daggubati shifts from blockbuster Baahubali stardom to backing acclaimed indie films.
His Spirit Media to release Sabar Bonda, winner of Sundance 2025 Grand Jury Prize.
Earlier release All We Imagine As Light ran in cinemas for seven weeks.
Daggubati reveals why India needs consistent infrastructure for alternative cinema.
Rana Daggubati, best known globally for his role in the Baahubali franchise, is now building a reputation in a very different space: indie film distribution. The actor has taken a bold leap from spectacle-driven cinema to backing critically acclaimed titles like Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light and the Sundance 2025 winner Sabar Bonda. With his Spirit Media banner, Daggubati says he wants to create a consistent pipeline for alternative cinema in India, where such films rarely get the screen space they deserve.
Rana Daggubati is backing award-winning indie films through his Spirit Media banner Getty Images
Why is Rana Daggubati focusing on indie film distribution?
According to Daggubati, India lacks a sustainable model for alternative cinema. While commercial blockbusters thrive because their success can be replicated across markets, indie titles often disappear after a festival run. “We have places and distribution for mainstream, so how then do we institutionalise alternative cinema?” he said in a recent interview.
He pointed out that Telugu cinema’s pan-India breakthrough, starting with Baahubali and followed by KGF, Pushpa and Kantara was possible because of data-driven success. Indie cinema, he believes, needs the same consistency to grow into a bigger movement rather than remain limited to one-off wins.
Rana Daggubati says India needs data-driven models to grow indie films beyond festivals Getty Images
What did he learn from All We Imagine As Light ?
Daggubati revealed that distributing Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix winner was a trial-and-error process. Spirit Media released the film on around 120 screens but discovered that location mattered more than numbers. In cities like Mumbai, some neighbourhoods performed well while others lagged, giving him critical insights about targeting the right audiences.
The film went on to run in Indian cinemas for seven weeks, much longer than most mainstream films. “Word of mouth became the biggest publicity tool,” he explained, adding that requests for screenings poured in from cities like Pune and Bhubaneswar. This slow-burn success in fact showed him that a patient release strategy could build a loyal indie audience.
Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s Sabar Bonda is a landmark in Marathi cinema, the first film in the language to premiere at Sundance. It went on to win the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize Dramatic and will now be released in India on 19 September by Spirit Media.
The project has heavyweight backing, with Nagraj Manjule, Nikkhil Advani, Vikramaditya Motwane, and actor Sai Tamhankar attached as executive producers. Daggubati says the choice to back Sabar Bonda came down to the director’s deeply personal storytelling. “It is a film only he could make because it comes from a space of honesty. That truth was our top priority,” he said.
Daggubati spoke about the shortage of cinema screens in India compared to the United States and China, arguing that many auditoriums run at only 20–25% occupancy. He also criticised the inconsistent festival ecosystem, noting how events like MAMI once provided crucial platforms but then disappeared due to funding cuts.
He warned against over-reliance on grants, pointing out that when funding is pulled, entire ecosystems collapse. Instead, he believes audience-driven support, consistent distribution models, and data-led releases are the way forward. “Our strength and weakness lies in the fact that we don’t share our common ideas as one industry,” he said.
Rana Daggubati sees a gap in India’s infrastructure for alternative cinemaGetty Images
What’s next for Rana Daggubati in indie film distribution?
With just a small team of eight at Spirit Media, Daggubati says he plans to build a “jury-type” system to evaluate films from across India. His aim is to create a slate of indie titles that can reach audiences nationwide, while also influencing streaming platforms to respond once theatrical success is established.
By backing films like Sabar Bonda and All We Imagine As Light, Rana Daggubati is clearly carving out a space where indie cinema can thrive alongside mainstream blockbusters. Just as Baahubali transformed the perception of Telugu cinema, he now hopes to spark a similar movement for Indian indie films.
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Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2025 reveals nominees with stunning shots of Charli XCX and Doja Cat
More than 20,000 photographs from 30 countries considered for this year’s shortlist
Nominees feature stars including Chappell Roan, Lana Del Rey, Charli XCX, Doja Cat and Burna Boy
Fans can vote for Music Moment of the Year until 23 September on the MPA website
Exhibition of all 40 nominated works runs at London’s Outernet from 19–23 September
The Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2025 has unveiled its nominees, showcasing striking images of international stars including Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and Doja Cat. After reviewing over 20,000 submissions across 30 countries, the competition aims to bring to light the growing prestige of music photography, with new categories introduced this year and a London exhibition bringing the work to the public.
Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2025 reveals nominees with stunning shots of Charli XCX and Doja Cat Greg Noire/Instagram/abbeyroadmpa
What are the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards?
The Abbey Road Music Photography Awards, launched in 2022, are the world’s only global competition dedicated to music photography. Hosted by the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, the awards recognise the creativity and cultural impact of photographers capturing artists on stage, behind the scenes, and within club culture.
For 2025, two new categories, Portrait and Festivals, have been added, alongside a special guest category focused on Club Culture. The judging panel includes renowned names such as Rankin, Nile Rodgers and actor Joe Keery.
The nominated works will be displayed at Outernet London’s Now Pop One venue from 19 to 23 September, giving fans the chance to view all 40 shortlisted images. The free exhibition offers an immersive experience in the capital’s entertainment district, located near Charing Cross Road.
Visitors can also vote for their favourite picture in the Music Moment of the Year category through interactive screens at the venue or online via the awards’ official website. Public voting closes on 23 September.
The winners of the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2025 will be revealed at a ceremony on 2 October at Abbey Road Studios in London. Dutch filmmaker and photographer Anton Corbijn, known for his decades-long collaborations with U2 and Depeche Mode, will be honoured with the prestigious Icon Award at this year’s event.
Mark Robertson, Abbey Road’s Director of Marketing and Creative, praised the “incredibly gifted community of photographers” whose work, he said, proves that music photography is not just documentation but an art form that helps shape popular culture.
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Karisma Kapoor’s children accuse Priya Kapur of suppressing will in £2.51bn Sunjay Kapur property battle
Karisma Kapoor’s kids seek share in late father Sunjay Kapur’s £2.51bn (₹30,000 crore) estate
They accuse stepmother Priya Kapur of forging a will to take full control
Lawsuit requests recognition as Class I legal heirs and partition of assets
Interim plea filed to freeze Sunjay Kapur’s personal estate until case outcome
The inheritance battle over business tycoon Sunjay Kapur’s £2.51bn (₹30,000 crore) estate has reached the Indian court, with Karisma Kapoor’s children Samaira and Kiaan accusing their stepmother Priya Kapur of presenting a forged will. The suit has opened a new chapter in the Sunjay Kapur death case, less than three months after the auto components magnate and Sona Comstar chairman died during a polo match in Windsor, UK.
Karisma Kapoor’s children accuse Priya Kapur of suppressing will in £2.51bn Sunjay Kapur property battle Instagram/therealsamairakapoor
What is Karisma Kapoor’s children’s plea in the Delhi High Court?
Samaira (20) and Kiaan (14), represented through their mother Karisma Kapoor, have filed a civil suit demanding recognition as Class I legal heirs. They are seeking partition of their late father’s assets and want a one-fifth share each of his personal estate.
The plea also asks for a freeze on Sunjay Kapur’s personal assets until the matter is resolved, to prevent any transfer or sale. According to the suit, the children were close to their father and he had repeatedly assured them of their financial security by setting up ventures and trusts in their names.
The siblings have made serious allegations against their stepmother Priya, who was married to Sunjay Kapur at the time of his death and has a six-year-old son with him. They allege Priya, along with two associates, Dinesh Agarwal and Nitin Sharma, deliberately withheld the will for seven weeks before producing it at a family meeting on 30 July 2025.
The will, dated 21 March 2025, reportedly leaves Sunjay’s entire personal estate to Priya Kapur. The children claim this document is “forged and fabricated” and surrounded by “suspicious circumstances”, as neither the original nor a copy has been shown to them.
The suit also names Priya’s son, Sunjay’s mother Rani Kapur, and the purported executor of the will, businesswoman Shradha Suri Marwah, as defendants.
Who inherits if the court recognises Karisma Kapoor’s children as legal heirs?
Under Indian succession laws, if Samaira and Kiaan are recognised as Class I heirs, they would be entitled to equal shares along with other legal heirs of Sunjay Kapur. The children argue that their father had initiated business ventures in their names and named them as trust beneficiaries, promising his commitment to their financial future.
They also mentioned how Sunjay promised them long-term security through shared holidays, business discussions, and family interactions. The case, therefore, is not only about the contested will but also about whether those assurances translate into enforceable inheritance rights.
Sunjay Kapur, a US citizen and billionaire industrialist, was the chairman of Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd (Sona Comstar), one of India’s largest automotive component manufacturers. He inherited the group after the death of his father, Dr Surinder Kapur, in 2015 and expanded it into a global enterprise with operations across India, China, Mexico, Serbia, and the US.
According to Forbes, his net worth at the time of his death in June 2025 stood at £950 million (₹10,300 crore), though reports place the wider family estate at £2.51bn (₹30,000 crore). His sudden death at 53, officially ruled as natural due to heart disease, has left behind a major succession crisis within one of India’s most prominent business families.
The Indian court will now examine the validity of the alleged will and decide whether Karisma Kapoor’s children can be formally recognised as legal heirs. For now, the plaintiffs are pressing for interim relief to freeze assets while the matter is under consideration.
The case is, in fact, about the intersection of Bollywood and business, drawing public attention not only because of Karisma Kapoor’s celebrity status but also due to the massive wealth involved and the serious allegation of will forgery within one of India’s most high-profile families.
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Badshah hilariously mocks Donald Trump tariffs on stage with Bollywood lyric twist in New Jersey
Badshah joked about Trump’s tariffs during his Unfinished USA Tour in New Jersey.
Fans erupted as he altered the lyrics of his hit song ‘Tareefan’ to deliver the quip.
The rapper is continuing his North American tour with stops in Seattle, Dallas, and Chicago.
Badshah recently made headlines for his 20 kg weight loss and the success of his album Ek Tha Raja.
Indian rapper Badshah had fans in stitches during his New Jersey show as he took a cheeky jab at US President Donald Trump, cleverly linking the ongoing tariff debate with his hit song Tareefan. The unexpected moment added a fresh layer of political satire to his Unfinished USA Tour, proving once again that Badshah can seamlessly mix music with humour.
Badshah hilariously mocks Donald Trump tariffs on stage with Bollywood lyric twist in New Jersey Instagram/badboyshah
What did Badshah say about Donald Trump at the New Jersey concert?
During the high-energy performance, Badshah altered the Punjabi lyrics of Tareefan from Veere Di Wedding. Instead of singing “Kinniya Tareefan Chahidi Ae Tenu” (How many compliments do you want?), he quipped, “Kinni Tariff Chahidiye Trump Ko” (How much tariff does Trump want?). The crowd erupted with laughter and applause, showing their appreciation for his quick-witted social commentary.
The lyric change came shortly after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods, citing concerns over India’s imports of Russian oil. Badshah’s playful reference struck a chord with fans, with many praising the rapper’s ability to comment on current affairs while keeping the concert entertaining. Clips of the moment quickly circulated online, further amplifying the response.
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How is Badshah’s North American tour shaping up?
The New Jersey show is part of Badshah’s ongoing North American tour, which follows sold-out gigs in the UK, UAE, and Canada. Upcoming stops include the Bay Area, Seattle, Dallas, and Chicago. Known for his energetic performances, he often brings surprise celebrity appearances to the stage, with stars like Nora Fatehi and Mickey Singh joining him to thrill audiences.
Away from live performances, Badshah is celebrating the success of his album Ek Tha Raja, which features chart-topping tracks like ‘God Damn’, ‘Jawaab’, and ‘Khushnuma’. He has also been in the spotlight for his 20 kg weight loss, which he attributes to disciplined diet and exercise rather than any weight-loss medication like Ozempic.
Badshah’s witty on-stage jibe at Donald Trump shows his unique ability to combine entertainment with timely commentary, keeping fans engaged both in the venue and online. His North American tour continues to be a success, making each performance a talking point across social media.
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Ed Sheeran confirms he is moving to America with wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters
Ed Sheeran confirms he is relocating with wife Cherry Seaborn and their daughters
The move comes ahead of his extended US tour
Singer reveals love for Nashville and his future in country music
Sheeran says he culturally identifies as Irish despite Suffolk upbringing
Ed Sheeran moving to America has been confirmed by the star himself, with the singer explaining he will relocate with his family to settle in the US during his upcoming tour. The chart-topping musician, who has often spoken about his love for Nashville and country music, said he could not keep “dipping in and out” of the country while raising young children.
Ed Sheeran confirms he is moving to America with wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters Getty Images
Why is Ed Sheeran moving to America?
The Suffolk-based artist revealed his plans during an appearance on The 2 Johnnies Podcast. Sheeran explained that a long stretch of touring in the US meant it was not practical to keep flying back and forth from the UK.
“I’m just about to move to America. I feel like I might be the only person moving to America,” he said, acknowledging the political turbulence in the country but adding that touring and family life were the main reasons behind the move.
The singer, his wife Cherry Seaborn, and their daughters Lyra (5) and Jupiter (3) are expected to divide their time between New York and Nashville. Reports suggest he has purchased a £9 million (₹95 crore) apartment in Brooklyn, where he previously rented during his copyright trial in 2023.
Sheeran has made no secret of his admiration for Nashville, often calling it his “favourite city in the States”. Speaking on the Call Her Daddy podcast earlier this year, he explained: “When you transition to country, you can’t transition back. Nashville has always been my end goal.”
The Grammy-winning artist has hinted at moving into country music for several years, influenced by the city’s songwriting culture and welcoming music scene. He believes Nashville offers a space where celebrities can live more freely without constant attention.
Fans have long been fascinated by Sheeran’s sprawling Suffolk estate, nicknamed “Sheeranville”. The property includes two pubs, a chapel, and multiple houses. In his podcast interview, Sheeran explained that the private pubs allow him to enjoy time with friends without worrying about camera phones or social media exposure.
The chapel, meanwhile, has hosted carol services, family events, and even weddings for members of his security team. Sheeran also described it as a place to remember friends who have passed away. While the estate will remain in his portfolio, he suggested he would be spending most of his time in the US during the next phase of his career.
Ed Sheeran described himself as “culturally Irish” while preparing for his American relocationGetty Images
How does Sheeran identify culturally?
In addition to his music career, Sheeran has spoken about his strong Irish roots. Appearing on The Louis Theroux Podcast, he said: “I class my culture as Irish. My dad’s family has seven brothers and sisters. We’d spend all of our holidays in Ireland, and my first musical experiences were with trad music in the house.”
Although born in Halifax and raised in Suffolk, the singer said his upbringing was steeped in Irish culture, shaping both his personal identity and his artistry. “I feel like just because I was born in Britain doesn’t necessarily mean I have to just be British,” he said.
Ed Sheeran says his long tour schedule means the family will “settle” in the StatesGetty Images
For Sheeran, the move to America is both a personal and professional shift. As he prepares to settle with his family across the Atlantic, the move reflects not only the demands of his career but also his plans to embrace country music and even a new cultural chapter.