Varun Dhawan explores darker role in 'Citadel: Honey Bunny'
Dhawan teams up with Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the Indian chapter of the Citadel series
By Eastern EyeAug 05, 2024
ACTOR Varun Dhawan credited directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK last Thursday (1) for giving him the opportunity to delve into a more complex character in the upcoming series Citadel: Honey Bunny.
Dhawan, who stars as Bunny opposite Samantha Ruth Prabhu's Honey, marks his streaming debut with this India chapter of Prime Video's global Citadel series, which originally starred Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden.
"Raj and DK are incredible directors. Working with them allowed me to explore a different side of myself, something I haven’t tapped into since Badlapur," Dhawan shared at the teaser launch event. "They pushed me out of my comfort zone to deliver a performance I'm really proud of. I'm glad I had the chance to work with them," he added.
Badlapur, the 2015 movie by Sriram Raghavan, saw the actor playing the role of a husband who becomes the monster he is chasing as he tries to avenge the death of his wife and child. The film was a major milestone in Dhawan's career.
Asked about his filmmaker father, David Dhawan, being concerned about how playing a dark character affected him, the actor said he has learned to switch off from his performances now.
"With my dad, it was just that he didn't like how my personality had become post Badlapur. He likes to see me in a certain way, always. But when this came about, and I've matured so much since then, he knows that I can handle all these things.
"He was talking as a parent, that's David Dhawan, the parent. But he was so excited that I was working with Raj and DK because he has loved their work in the past so much. So, he is more excited about it."
The actor also revealed that Raj and DK told him not to take up any other project while while he was shooting for Citadel: Honey Bunny.
"When you work with directors like Raj and DK, they are concerned whether you are starting another film or ad. When I went on board for it (show), they had strictly told me, 'If you're doing this, you cannot do another film or shoot ads because this is your look, you'll be only this'," Dhawan said.
Working on a long-format show was a creatively enriching experience for the Bollywood star as it gave him more time to be in the character.
"I enjoyed (it) a little more because I got to be in the character of Bunny for a longer period of time. When you get so much time, the arc of the character comes out better.
"Like, how in real life, you want people to understand you and not misunderstand you but the meeting time is so less that they misunderstand you. In this show, people will, hopefully, understand my character. There are moments that you can express well," he said.
As the makers unveiled the teaser of Citadel: Honey Bunny, Dhawan teased his fans saying there are a lot of interesting things in store but Raj and DK were being miserly in divulging details.
Dhawan said preparing for the action sequences was challenging but his co-star Ruth Prabhu, who was battling a health crisis while working on the show, inspired him to give his best. Ruth Prabhu was diagnosed with autoimmune condition myositis in 2022 and took a break from acting after the show.
Lauding the south star for her commitment and determination, Dhawan said she has inspired everyone on the show to give their best.
"My preparation for stunts was very easy compared to Samantha's because it's in the public knowledge what she was battling when she got on this show. I would think it's hard when I just started rehearsing, and I was like, 'Raj and DK, are making me do this'.
"But when I saw the work ethic this girl had and what she was battling, that really inspired me. I've never been on a shoot or a creative process where I'm seeing a co-actor go through something. You learn so much about human beings in general battling something and then winning."
Citadel: Honey Bunny is set to release on November 7 on Prime Video. The series is produced by D2R Films, Amazon MGM Studios, and executive produced by AGBO, the production company run by the Russo Brothers’ -- directors Anthony and Joe Russo. (PTI)
Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa announced their pregnancy via a joint Instagram post on Wednesday.
The image showed a floral cradle with “Baby on the way” written on it, captioned simply: “Elated ❤️.”
Industry friends including Farah Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, and Esha Gupta congratulated them.
The couple, who were together for 11 years before marrying in 2021, recently launched their production house, KAMPA Film.
Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa shared that they are expecting their first child together in a joint Instagram post on Wednesday. The announcement came with a floral-themed image featuring a cradle illustration that read, “Baby on the way,” along with their names. The couple summed up their feelings in one word: “Elated.”
Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa smiling during a public appearance earlier this year Instagram/patralekhaa/rajkummar_rao
Couple’s first baby on the way
Rajkummar and Patralekhaa’s quiet reveal drew instant love from fans and colleagues alike. Filmmaker Farah Khan, who knew beforehand, joked in the comments, “Finally the news is out!! I was having a tough time keeping it to myself.” Others like Sonam Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, Neha Dhupia, and Esha Gupta also sent in their warm wishes.
The duo dated for over 11 years before tying the knot in November 2021. Their relationship began well before they co-starred in CityLights, a 2014 film directed by Hansal Mehta. They've since appeared together in Bose: Dead/Alive and remained one of the industry’s most low-key but admired couples.
Rajkummar Rao will next be seen in Maalik, set for release on 11 July. He plays a gangster in the crime drama, which also stars Manushi Chhillar and Prosenjit Chatterjee. Patralekhaa, last seen in Phule, continues to balance film and OTT roles.
The couple recently launched KAMPA Film, a production banner named using the initials of their mothers’ names. “We’ve always believed in the power of storytelling,” Patralekhaa shared. Rajkummar added, “KAMPA is an extension of our love for cinema and each other.”
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Johnny Depp attends the "Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness" Screening at the Red Sea International Film Festival
Johnny Depp says Warner Bros. asked him to resign from Fantastic Beasts in 2020, but he felt they wanted him to retire.
The actor had just lost a libel case against The Sun, which referred to him as a “wife-beater.”
Depp was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen in The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022).
He has now returned to directing after 20 years with his new film Modì, releasing on 11 July in the UK.
Hollywood actor Johnny Depp has opened up about being removed from the Fantastic Beasts franchise, saying he felt the studio’s request for his resignation was effectively a push into retirement. Depp made the comments in a recent interview while promoting his new directorial project Modì: Three Days on the Wing of Madness.
In 2020, shortly after losing a high-profile libel case against The Sun over claims of domestic abuse during his marriage to Amber Heard, Depp was asked to step down from the Harry Potter spin-off series. Speaking about the moment, Depp said, “It literally stopped in a millisecond, like, while I was doing the movie. They said, ‘We’d like you to resign.’ But what was really in my head was, they wanted me to retire.”
Depp returns to directing with Modì after more than two decadesGetty Images
Depp on his forced exit from Fantastic Beasts
Depp had filmed only one scene for the third instalment, The Secrets of Dumbledore, before Warner Bros. asked him to leave. He announced his exit via Instagram, saying he had “respected and agreed” to the request. However, in hindsight, Depp revealed his private reaction was far less diplomatic: “F--- you. There’s far too many of me to kill. If you think you can hurt me more than I’ve already been hurt, you’re gravely mistaken.”
He went on to describe how the fallout from the court case affected his career, saying he had been “shunned, dumped, booted, deep-sixed, cancelled, however you want to define it.”
Depp says being pushed out felt like “they wanted me to retire”Getty Images
Mads Mikkelsen on stepping into Depp’s role
After Depp’s departure, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen was cast as Gellert Grindelwald. Speaking at the Sarajevo Film Festival in 2022, Mikkelsen admitted replacing Depp was “intimidating,” calling him “an amazing actor.” He said he made a conscious choice not to imitate Depp’s portrayal, as doing so would have been “creative suicide.”
Mikkelsen added that while Depp’s fans were kind, they were also “stubborn,” and he understood their emotional investment in the original casting.
Depp was originally dropped following the 2020 verdict that The Sun’s “wife-beater” headline was “substantially true.” But in 2022, he won a separate US defamation case against Heard over a Washington Post op-ed, with a jury awarding him over £8 million (₹84 crore) in damages. Heard received £1.6 million (₹16.8 crore) in her countersuit.
Reflecting on the legal process, Depp said he felt compelled to fight back publicly: “If I don’t try to represent the truth, it will be like I’ve actually committed the acts I’m accused of. And my kids will have to live with that.”
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp watch as the jury leaves the courtroomGetty Images
What’s next for Johnny Depp?
While Depp has kept a relatively low profile in Hollywood since 2020, he’s slowly returning to creative work. He made his live-action comeback in the French film Jeanne du Barry (2023), where he played Louis XV. Now, Modì, his first directorial venture in over two decades, is set to hit UK cinemas on 11 July.
The biographical drama follows Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani over a turbulent 48-hour period in World War I-era Paris. It stars Riccardo Scamarcio, Al Pacino, and Antonia Desplat.
Following Modì, Depp is expected to return to acting in Day Drinker, a Lionsgate action-comedy alongside Penélope Cruz and Madelyn Cline. In the film, Depp plays a mysterious yacht guest with ties to a dangerous criminal underworld.
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Gregg Wallace dropped from MasterChef after over 50 sexual misconduct claims surface
Gregg Wallace has been dropped from MasterChef following a misconduct probe.
BBC was approached by over 50 individuals with new allegations, including sexual misconduct.
Wallace says an independent investigation cleared him of “serious” claims but found him guilty of inappropriate language.
He has hit back at the BBC, accusing them of betrayal and failing to support his autism diagnosis.
Gregg Wallace has been officially removed from MasterChef after more than 50 new individuals came forward with misconduct allegations spanning his two-decade television career. The move follows an ongoing investigation led by law firm Lewis Silkin, commissioned by the show’s production company, Banijay UK, into Wallace’s behaviour.
While Wallace claims he has been cleared of the “most serious and sensational” accusations, he was reportedly found responsible for inappropriate language and comments dating back as far as 2005. The BBC, which aired MasterChef, is now facing renewed scrutiny over how long-standing concerns about Wallace’s behaviour were handled internally.
BBC under fire after 50 women share new allegations against Gregg WallaceGetty Images
Allegations span 20 years and multiple shows
BBC News reports that the broadcaster received over 50 new testimonies after its initial exposé in 2023, which documented complaints from 13 individuals. Among the most disturbing claims were accounts from women alleging Wallace groped them, touched them inappropriately, or undressed in their presence without consent.
One woman who worked on MasterChef between 2011 and 2013 said Wallace pulled down his trousers in front of her in a dressing room. A 19-year-old employee claimed she was subjected to comments about her body and discouraged from filing a formal complaint. Others described incidents on BBC shows such as Saturday Kitchen and Eat Well for Less, as well as incidents that occurred at industry events and even during a book tour.
Despite some complaints reportedly dating back to 2017, Wallace continued to appear on-screen until stepping away from MasterChef in late 2024 when the first round of allegations emerged.
Wallace hits back, says autism diagnosis was ignored
In a five-slide Instagram statement, Wallace defended himself, claiming he had been “hung out to dry” by the BBC and MasterChef producers despite years of service. He also revealed a recent diagnosis of autism, alleging that his neurodiversity was known by colleagues but never acknowledged or accommodated.
“I will not go quietly,” Wallace wrote. “I was tried by media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established… That failure is now being quietly buried.”
Wallace accused BBC News of planning to “platform legally unsafe accusations” and condemned the broadcaster’s coverage as “sensationalised gossip masquerading as journalism.” He stated that the only misconduct confirmed in the Silkin report related to language used between 2005 and 2018, for which he offered an unreserved apology.
Gregg Wallace seen filming prior to being removed from the showYoutube Screengrab
BBC and Banijay face scrutiny over safeguarding failures
The scandal is not just about Wallace. The revelations have raised significant questions about workplace culture within the BBC and its production partners. Many of the women who spoke to the BBC said they felt unable to report Wallace’s conduct at the time for fear of career backlash.
A production worker told BBC News that when she complained about Wallace dropping his trousers in a dressing room, she was dismissed with the response: “You’re over 16. You’re not being Jimmy Saviled.”
Another producer said her warnings to the BBC were ignored even after submitting a formal letter supported by an industry union in 2022. A 2023 report into BBC workplace culture already revealed that “a small number of stars and managers behave unacceptably,” with action often delayed or avoided entirely.
The BBC logo is seen at BBC Broadcasting House Getty Images
Banijay boss responds to scandal, promises safer industry practices
Just two hours after the latest BBC report on Wallace dropped, Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland addressed the controversy during a press dinner in London’s Covent Garden. Speaking to a room filled with journalists, producers, and talent, Holland confirmed that an executive summary of the Lewis Silkin investigation will be released publicly “soon,” though the full report will remain confidential.
While he declined to comment on whether Wallace had been formally sacked, Holland acknowledged the broader implications of the case. “We need to do all we can to ensure that everyone in production, especially in the most junior roles, feels confident to call out bad behaviour,” he said.
He also noted that television culture had changed dramatically over the last two decades and pointed to “hotlines, welfare officers, and anonymous reporting systems” now available to workers as an apparent response to the many who said they feared career damage if they spoke up.
Gregg Wallace attends the Channel 5 2020 Upfront photocallGetty Images
Public reckoning and industry fallout
As the summary of the Silkin report is expected in the coming days, pressure is mounting on the BBC and Banijay to address the broader systemic issues that enabled Wallace to remain on air for so long. Calls are growing for resignations among senior figures who had oversight of Wallace’s productions.
Baroness Helena Kennedy, who leads a creative industry watchdog, warned that “freelancers often feel unable to speak out” and that there have been “multiple missed opportunities” to prevent harm.
Philippa Childs, head of the Bectu union, added: “Misogyny, intimidation, ageism, and sexual harassment should have no place in modern workplaces. Yet time and again we have seen issues running rampant, propped up by inadequate reporting mechanisms and a culture of untouchable talent.”
Bectu Union Story Instagram Screengrab/ bectuunion
She welcomed the UK government’s latest move to ban NDAs that silence victims of workplace abuse, a step many say is long overdue in cleaning up the British entertainment industry.
Wallace, meanwhile, continues to deny engaging in any sexually harassing behaviour. A spokesperson said he is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
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Officially become the highest-grossing lead actor in global box office history
Scarlett Johansson becomes the highest-grossing lead actor at the global box office
Her films have now grossed £10.7 billion worldwide
Johansson achieved the feat with fewer films than Jackson or Downey Jr
Latest success comes from Jurassic World: Rebirth, which earned $318 million in its first six days
Johansson overtakes Jackson and Downey Jr at the box office
Scarlett Johansson has officially become the highest-grossing lead actor in global box office history, following the successful release of Jurassic World: Rebirth. The milestone sees her surpass fellow Marvel actors Samuel L Jackson and Robert Downey Jr, cementing her status as one of the most bankable stars in the world.
According to box office tracker The Numbers, Johansson’s films have now earned £10.7 billion worldwide. Jackson and Downey Jr trail slightly behind, with £10.7 billion and £10.5 billion respectively.
Remarkably, Johansson has achieved this with a relatively lean filmography — just 36 films, compared to Jackson’s 71 and Downey Jr’s 45.
A consistent performer over two decades
Johansson's average gross per film stands at £298 million, placing her ahead of both Jackson ($205.7m / £151m) and Downey Jr ($318.1m / £233.5m). Her breakout role came in 2003’s Lost in Translation, and she has since built a diverse portfolio that includes critically acclaimed performances in Marriage Story, Jojo Rabbit, and multiple roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
She made her screen debut at the age of 10 in the 1994 comedy North, later appearing in Home Alone 3, The Horse Whisperer, and Ghost World during the 1990s.
Lead role in Jurassic World: Rebirth
In her latest film, Johansson stars as Zora Bennett, a mercenary hired by a pharmaceutical representative (played by Rupert Friend) to accompany palaeontologist Dr Henry Loomis (played by Jonathan Bailey) on a mission to retrieve dinosaur DNA. The plot builds on the legacy of the Jurassic Park franchise.
She takes over the lead from Chris Pratt, who led the previous three Jurassic World films as Owen Grady.
Within its first six days in cinemas, Jurassic World: Rebirth has earned £233 million globally, making it the second-highest performing release of 2025 so far, behind only the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2.
A role years in the making
Johansson has previously spoken about her determination to join the franchise.
“I’ve been trying to get into this franchise in any possible way for over 10 years,” she told ComicBook.com.
“I’ll do anything for it — I’ll die in the first five minutes! I can’t believe it’s finally happened.”
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The limited-edition release is the first official product
Royal Mint unveils commemorative Iron Maiden coin for band's 50th anniversary
Features mascot Eddie with hidden references to songs, albums and tours
Designed by artist and lifelong fan Albert “Akirant” Quirantes
Coin available in editions starting at £18.50
Iron Maiden honoured with official UK coin
The Royal Mint has released a new collectable coin to commemorate 50 years since the formation of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden.
Designed by artist Albert “Akirant” Quirantes, the coin features the band’s long-time mascot Eddie, who has appeared on every Iron Maiden album cover since 1980. The artwork includes hidden references to the band’s extensive discography, stage imagery, and iconic world tours.
The limited-edition release is the first official product to feature the band’s 50th anniversary logo and follows Eddie’s appearance on a set of Royal Mail stamps in 2023.
“A perfect fusion of metal on metal”
Rod Smallwood, the band’s manager, said:
“Having Eddie on an official UK coin is a continuation of his incredible odyssey since we unearthed him back in 1980.”
Rebecca Morgan of the Royal Mint described the coin as a “perfect fusion of metal on metal” and said it is expected to become a highly sought-after collector’s item.
Design inspired by fan devotion
Quirantes, a lifelong Iron Maiden fan, said working on the coin was one of the most exciting projects of his career.
“I’ve hidden several references within the design that true fans will enjoy discovering,” he said, pointing to subtle nods to classic albums and songs.
The coin is available in various editions, with prices starting at £18.50.