Eye Spy: Top stories from the world of entertainment

RUBBISH RAID - Raid 2

Earlier this year, I wrote about how Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn have collectively damaged Bollywood by flooding audiences with a stream of largely terrible films – most of which flop. That trend continued with Devgn’s sequel Raid 2, which underperformed at the box office. Now, Akshay Kumar looks set to carry the baton on 6 June with the dreadful-looking Housefull 5 – a mindless franchise film packed with a cast well past their prime.

Ajay Devgn

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BIG FOOD FAIL ACTRESS
Chhaya Kadam recently came under fire after reportedly claiming to have eaten the meat of protected wildlife species in India – including mouse deer, wild boar, monitor lizard and porcupine. The Plant and Animal Welfare Society has called for her prosecution. The star of award-winning films such as All We Imagine As Light and Laapataa Ladies will now likely think twice before making any more bizarre confessions.

Chhaya Kadam

ANOTHER DUTT DISASTER

Though he has found some success playing antagonists in regional films, Sanjay Dutt has continued his disastrous run of Bollywood flops with the recently released comedy horror The Bhootnii. The 65-year-old once again proved he cannot spot a strong Hindi project – with another film rejected by both critics and audiences. Like many older stars, he needs to rethink his choices and pursue age-appropriate roles in well-written productions – or consider retiring gracefully. He will next appear in a smaller supporting part in the mindless-looking comedy Housefull 5.

Sanjay Dutt

DILJIT’S CHOICE DILEMMA
Diljit Dosanjh has been unstoppable – delivering stunning success in music and standout performances in diverse films. That remarkable rise was reflected in his debut appearance at the Met Gala, where he wore a regal outfit that turned heads.
With the Punjabi superstar at an all-time high, now is the time to make smart choices – and avoid projects like the forthcoming comedy No Entry 2, where he will star alongside Bollywood actors Arjun Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, both of whom have struggled at the box office and will likely be given more attention. Diljit must recognise his immense value and opt for stronger projects – like his newly released single Buck, a collaboration with global K-pop sensation Jackson Wang. He should continue pursuing global platforms such as the Met Gala – and steer clear of silly film choices.

Diljit Dosanjh at the Met Gala

CINEMA GREAT HAS DIED
Indian film director and cinematographer Shaji N Karun has died at his home in Thiruvananthapuram, aged 73. He made a significant impact on Malayalam cinema with acclaimed films such as Piravi (1988), Swaham (1994) and Vanaprastham (1999). Although the gifted filmmaker may not have received the recognition he truly deserved, his rich and diverse body of work stands as a lasting legacy.

Shaji N Karun

AN EMMY NOD Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has added to her impressive list of international honours with a nomination at the upcoming 46th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards for Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, co-directed with Trish Dalton.The film, which focuses on the iconic fashion designer and was made by an all-female crew, is nominated in the outstanding business and economic documentary category. The two-time Academy Award-winning Pakistani filmmaker has more exciting work ahead – including a film set in the Star Wars universe.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy with Diane von Furstenberg

KING KHAN IS BIG WINNER

Most ageing Bollywood actors over 50 have seen a sharp decline in recent years – except Shah Rukh Khan. While Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan and Ajay Devgn have struggled to recapture their past glory, Shah Rukh remains in high demand after a string of recent successes.

He made global headlines after walking the red carpet at this year’s Met Gala in a striking outfit, and there are unconfirmed reports that Hollywood is keen to bring him into the Marvel universe.

The others may land the occasional minor hit, but none currently match Shah Rukh’s enduring star power.

Like Amitabh Bachchan before him, he now seems poised to enter an exciting new phase of meaningful projects – and if he finally steps into Hollywood, it would only strengthen his extraordinary legacy.

Shah Rukh Khan at the Met Gala

BROWN GIRL DUO DELIGHTI recently watched a work-in-progress version of Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come – and it was spectacularly funny. Even as a rough cut, the popular podcast duo Poppy and Rubina drew a large (predominantly female) crowd, who roared with laughter at the bold, unapologetic material. That is why the upcoming previews of their fully developed show at Soho Theatre in London – running from 10–14 June – are highly recommended ahead of its scheduled Edinburgh Fringe run.

Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come

SOORAJ’S LAST CHANCE SALOO
After three flop films – Hero (2015), Satellite Shankar (2019) and Time To Dance (2021) – actor Sooraj Pancholi will be hoping to make it fourth time lucky with his new release Kesari Veer. Unfortunately for him, the historical action drama has generated little buzz and appears headed for yet another costly Bollywood failure. Rather than marking a fresh start for the actor – recently acquitted in the long-running Jiah Khan suicide case – this may signal the end of any meaningful film career.

Kesari Veer

HISTORY GIRL HUSAIN

The new series Who Do You Think You Are? includes an extraordinary episode featuring Mishal Husain.

The popular broadcaster embarks on a global journey, tracing her family ancestry to a royal court in 19th-century India – before an unexpected turn takes her to America.

There, she uncovers a surprising link to forefathers who played a key role in the American Revolution, which helped the country gain independence. Not only is it a rare episode of the BBC show to spotlight someone of South Asian heritage, it also offers a fascinating glimpse into history and tells a powerful story.

It would be remarkable to see a similar programme in India or Pakistan, with well-known South Asian figures exploring their family roots.

Mishal Husain