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.
Leonardo DiCaprio was briefly stopped and searched by Spanish Civil Guard officers outside a private tequila party in Ibiza.
Girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti was also reportedly subjected to a security pat-down.
The event, hosted by Patrón and actor Arón Piper, was attended by several A-listers including Kendall Jenner and Tobey Maguire.
Rapper Travis Scott was denied entry for undisclosed reasons.
Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio found himself in an unusual situation when Spanish police temporarily delayed his entry to an exclusive Ibiza party. The 50-year-old star, best known for roles in Titanic, The Great Gatsby, and Killers of the Flower Moon, was with his girlfriend, Italian model Vittoria Ceretti, and a group of friends when officers stopped them for a routine security check outside a private villa.
The event was hosted by tequila brand Patrón in collaboration with Spanish actor-singer Arón Piper. Videos shared online show DiCaprio dressed casually in an all-black outfit and his trademark baseball cap, patiently scrolling through his phone while officers checked his pockets. In the clip, a woman believed to be Ceretti can be heard saying, “They are searching me full on right now.”
Leonardo DiCaprio photographed arriving at the Patrón and Arón Piper hosted event in Ibiza X/Leonardo DiCaprio Fan
Why Leonardo DiCaprio was searched at the Ibiza party
According to sources quoted by Page Six, the incident was not a targeted stop but part of a blanket security policy for all guests. “Every single person was patted down and had to show ID,” an insider said, adding that the officers initially did not recognise DiCaprio. “They did a double take, and then he went in!”
The party’s guest list was filled with international celebrities, including model Kendall Jenner and DiCaprio’s long-time friend Tobey Maguire. Witnesses say DiCaprio remained calm throughout the process, even chatting and joking with the officers before entering.
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Travis Scott denied entry to the same event
While DiCaprio eventually made it past security, rapper Travis Scott reportedly wasn’t as lucky. Multiple outlets have claimed that he was denied entry to the same party, though no official reason has been given. The incident adds to a string of recent reports highlighting the strict access rules at high-profile Ibiza gatherings.
Scott has been seen in Ibiza in recent weeks, performing at clubs and attending private events, but this particular villa party appeared to have tighter security than most.
Travis Scott gestures as he attends the men's semi-final basketball match between France and Germany during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio and Vittoria Ceretti’s Ibiza summer
DiCaprio and Ceretti have been romantically linked since meeting at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival during the premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon. The pair have spent much of this summer in Europe, often photographed together in glamorous settings.
Just days before the Ibiza party, the couple joined Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his partner Lauren Sánchez for a trip aboard Bezos’s £400 million (₹4,200 crore) superyacht. They were spotted dining at exclusive Balearic Island restaurants and lounging on deck during the yacht’s stop in Ibiza.
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DiCaprio’s upcoming film project
On the professional front, DiCaprio’s most recent big-screen role was in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, a historical crime drama adapted from David Grann’s 2017 non-fiction book. The film earned multiple Academy Award nominations earlier this year.
Next, DiCaprio will star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s action-thriller One Battle After Another, slated for release at the end of September. The project is expected to draw significant attention from both critics and audiences, given Anderson’s track record and DiCaprio’s enduring box-office appeal.
Aryan Khan breaks his silence following the global success of his Netflix series.
He reveals a specific character's dialogue became a personal mantra for him.
The filmmaker openly discusses the intense pressure and sleepless nights of production.
His debut show has dominated Netflix charts in numerous countries.
Khan shared his emotional reaction to the audience's positive response.
Aryan Khan is finally talking about the whirlwind success of his new Netflix series, The Ba**ds of Bollywood. While the show rockets up the global charts, the new director is pulling back the curtain on his own challenging journey to make it. He has shared how a philosophical line from his own character, Jaraj Saxena, became a crucial source of strength for him, especially when exhaustion and pressure mounted during the demanding production process.
Aryan Khan admits Netflix fame brought him to breaking point and a line from his own show saved him Getty Images
What did Aryan Khan say about his struggles?
Let's be honest, everyone expected a big debut, but nobody predicted this level of pressure. For the first time, Aryan admits how difficult things got. He stated that throughout the most challenging moments, a line from Rajat Bedi's character, Jaraj, would repeat in his head: "Haarne mein aur haar maanne mein bohot farak hota hai," which means "there's a huge difference between losing and giving up."
It's a heavy thought, isn't it? The difference between losing and actually accepting that you're defeated. He joked that at first he put it down to a serious lack of sleep, just fatigue messing with his head. But the idea stuck anyway. It was enough to keep him pushing forward, day after day.
Aryan Khan reflecting on the global success of The Ba**ds of BollywoodGetty Images
How successful is The Ba**ds of Bollywood?
You've seen the memes, you've heard the music. The numbers now confirm it's a proper hit. We're talking Top Five Most-Watched non-English shows on Netflix worldwide. It hit the number one spot in nine different countries. That's not just good, it's huge. The fan theories and reels flooding social media feeds prove the show has connected far beyond just viewership. It's sparked conversations and controversies, which is exactly what any creator wants.
Seeing all this love from a global audience has hit him hard. He called it "deeply emotional." The truth is, you spend years on something, fuelled by little more than your own belief and a few character voices in your head. To then see it bring happiness to so many people? That's the entire point, he says. That feeling is what pulled him into storytelling in the first place.
He acknowledged that the story he started with now feels like it belongs to everyone watching. It's not just his anymore. And he gives a quiet nod to his character again, ending with Jaraj's humble question to the audience: "Ab pehechana?" meaning, 'now you recognise me'?
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Akshay Kumar revealed his daughter’s encounter with an online predator
The Bollywood star revealed a stranger asked his daughter for nude pictures during an online game.
His quick-thinking daughter immediately shut off the device and told her mother.
Kumar described this as a common entry point for more serious online crimes.
He made a direct appeal to the state's Chief Minister for immediate action.
The actor called for mandatory weekly cyber safety classes for students in grades 7 to 10.
You think you have a handle on what your children are up to online, and then a story like this hits. Akshay Kumar just dropped a bombshell about a scare involving his own family, the kind that makes every parent's blood run cold. His daughter was gaming, something millions of children do every day, when a random player slid into her direct messages with a demand for nude pictures. It is this exact horror that has him demanding a "cyber period" be incorporated into the school curriculum, and frankly, who can argue?
Akshay Kumar revealed his daughter’s encounter with an online predator Getty Images/Instagram/akshaykumar
What exactly went down with his daughter?
So, here is the scene. A few months ago, his daughter was deep into one of those video games where you play with strangers from who knows where. Everything seemed normal until a private message popped up. The first question was creepy but simple: "Are you male or female?" She answered, probably without a second thought. Then came the next message. No pleasantries, no warning. Just a straight-up ask for her nude pictures.
The sheer audacity of it is staggering. Thankfully, the child has a good head on her shoulders. She did not engage, nor did she panic. She just switched the whole thing off and went and found her mother, Twinkle Khanna. This is a lesson right there in why children need to feel they can tell you anything.
Is online crime really bigger than street crime now?
Kumar might be onto something. Think about it. That first creepy message? It is never just a one-off. It is a test. They are seeing what they can get away with. If a child even hesitates, the situation changes completely. Then what? Blackmail? Threats? It is a short hop from a nasty direct message to something far worse. The whole thing gets really dark, really fast.
Kumar's argument is that you would not send a child out onto a busy motorway without teaching them the Green Cross Code. So, why are we sending them into the digital wild west with zero training?
Concerned parents are backing the actor’s call for cyber awareness in classrooms iStock
What would this proposed 'cyber period' actually do?
He is not being vague about it. He stood there at a police event and made a direct plea to the state's top minister. His idea is a dedicated lesson every single week for children in standards 7 through 10. This would cover practical, necessary stuff, such as how to spot a scam, what a predator's grooming messages look like, why you never share that kind of personal information, and crucially, what to do the second you feel uncomfortable. It is about building a reflex, like his daughter had. Switch it off. Tell an adult. Do not be a victim. It seems so obvious, but apparently it has to be taught. And after a story like this, good luck finding a parent who would say no.
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Cillian Murphy joins as executive producer for the highly anticipated BBC One revival
Two new series confirmed, set in post-war 1950s Birmingham.
Story shifts focus to a new generation of the Shelby family.
Filming will happen at Digbeth Loc. Studios in the city.
Cillian Murphy is on board as an executive producer.
The show will air on BBC One and iPlayer, then Netflix globally.
Guess the Peaky Blinders saga got a proper, extended run. Just when you thought the Shelbys were done, the BBC has gone and confirmed two brand new series. But this time, they are shaking things up, jumping forward in time to follow a completely new generation of the family. Imagine the same surname, but a whole new set of faces causing trouble in a city desperately trying to rebuild itself.
Cillian Murphy joins as executive producer for the highly anticipated BBC One revival Instagram/peakyblindersofficial
What is the deal with this new storyline?
They are leaving the flapper dresses and the Great Depression behind. We are landing right in the middle of 1953. Birmingham's landscape is just a collection of cranes and concrete skeletons, still shattered from the Blitz. And you know what all that rebuilding means, right? Contracts. Money. Power. A massive, brutal scrap for control of the city's future. It is actually a genius move. The setting is a character in itself: all cranes, concrete, and chaos. The Shelbys, of course, are right in the middle of it.
Steven Knight remains the driving force, writing and creating this new iteration. That is a relief for fans worried it might continue without its original voice. The production is a joint effort between Kudos, known for SAS Rogue Heroes, and Garrison Drama, the team behind the original six series. Here is a juicy bit: Cillian Murphy has signed on as an executive producer. Will his character Tommy's shadow loom large over the new kids? Will we even get a cameo? They are not saying. But filming in Digbeth again means they are keeping it real, sticking to the city that made the show.
The 66-year-old, best known for creating Peaky Blinders and A Thousand Blows Getty Images
When can we expect the new Peaky Blinders?
A specific release date has not been announced. What we know is that each of the two new series will consist of six hour-long episodes. The plan is for it to run on BBC One and iPlayer here in the UK first. After that, it will pop up on Netflix for the rest of the world to binge. This new show is actually coming after that Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man, which is set in the war. Think of that movie as the bridge. So there is a whole lot of Shelby drama coming down the pipeline. Guess we better get ready.
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Kantara Chapter 1 opens to record £6 million day as UK and Indian audiences respond
Cinema halls across India see fans reeling from the film’s intense spiritual sequences.
A UK premiere audience gave the film a rousing standing ovation, stunning the team.
The prequel dives into the origins of the Bhuta Kola ritual from the first film.
Social media flooded with clips of viewers appearing possessed after screenings.
The film smashed box office records with an opening day haul of over £6 million (₹65 crore).
Looks like Rishab Shetty hasn't just made a film; he's bottled some kind of lightning because Kantara Chapter 1 is hitting people right in the gut. You've got viewers stumbling out of theatres looking shell-shocked, a few even copying those wild possession scenes right there in the cinema. And it's not just an Indian thing. The film’s recent UK premiere was met with a thunderous standing ovation, showing this story's pull extends far beyond its home turf. Then the numbers landed, a whopping £6.2 million (₹65 crore) on day one. Seems like the figures are backing up the frenzy.
Kantara Chapter 1 opens to record £6 million day as UK and Indian audiences respond Instagram/kantarafilm
What is driving the extreme audience reactions?
You might have seen the videos all over now. A woman shaking in her seat, people around her trying to help. Then another clip from Bengaluru where a man in a dhoti is spinning on the floor, chanting just like Rishab Shetty's character. It's like the movie doesn't end when the credits roll. For some people, it just keeps going. The film pulls you in that completely.
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How did the UK premiere audience react to Kantara Chapter 1?
And this isn't just happening in Karnataka. That UK premiere? The place went crazy in London when the credits rolled. The whole crowd was up in seconds for a proper, roaring standing ovation that just didn't let up. You could see the team were a bit blown away by it, honestly.
It shows the story’s core themes of faith, tradition, and man’s connection to nature are cutting across cultural lines, giving the diaspora a powerful piece of home and introducing others to something entirely new.
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What is the box office story for Kantara Chapter 1?
Let’s talk numbers, because they are just as crazy as the fan videos. The film opened on October 2nd and immediately set the box office alight, bulldozing past the opening day collections of other major releases this year.
From struggling to get screen space for his earlier work, Rishab Shetty now commands over 5000 houseful shows, a journey he calls "nothing but your love, support, and God’s grace."
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Taylor Swift exposes the hidden toll of fame with 'The Life of a Showgirl' and shocking new single
Swift’s twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, released on 3 October 2025
Lead single “The Fate of Ophelia” unveiled alongside a global cinema event
Sabrina Carpenter features on the shimmering title track
Visual campaign drenched in orange, nodding to cabaret history
Photographers Mert and Marcus shot the album’s flamboyant artwork
Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl is finally here, and it feels less like a simple album drop and more like a deliberately staged spectacle. This new record, landing today, completely abandons the muted tones of The Tortured Poets Department for something far more theatrical. The whole project, conceived during the European tour dates, dives headfirst into the manic energy of performance, using the showgirl motif to ask what it costs to live under stadium lights. It’s a theme echoed in the ambitious, limited-run cinematic event accompanying its release.
Taylor Swift exposes the hidden toll of fame with 'The Life of a Showgirl' and shocking new single Instagram/taylorswift
What is the real story behind The Life of a Showgirl?
Okay, so it’s not actually about being a showgirl in the literal sense. That’s just the metaphor she’s clinging to. Swift has talked about the songs coming to her in bits and pieces between shows last year. Think about it: one night you’re screaming on stage in front of 70,000 people; the next you’re on a silent tour bus staring at a wall.
That whiplash is the album’s core. It’s about the duality, the person versus the persona. The tracklist alone hints at it with songs like Elizabeth Taylor and Father Figure, suggesting she’s playing with icons and archetypes, maybe seeing her own life reflected in theirs.
Right, the sound. This is a hard pivot. Where Poets was often sparse and lyrically dense, this one is loud. It’s pop, but with dramatic, soft-rock layers. Bringing Max Martin and Shellback back into the fold says everything you need to know; she’s going for big hooks and that polished sheen, clearly making a conscious return to a grander production style. “The Fate of Ophelia” kicks the door in with a driving beat and a chorus that feels designed for stadium chant-alongs, like a world away from the muted synthscape of “Fortnight.”
This is key. It’s not another Eras Tour film. From 3 to 5 October, fans are gathering in cinemas worldwide for Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl. It isn’t a concert film. You get the premiere of the “Fate of Ophelia” video, sure. But also, lyric videos for all the new songs, along with behind-the-scenes footage and audio of Swift talking about the tracks.
It feels like a controlled, immersive unboxing of the album’s world. And then it’s gone. Perhaps, that scarcity is the whole point, making the album release itself a fleeting, must-see event.
You’ve definitely noticed the orange. It’s everywhere. The photoshoots by Mert and Marcus, the promotional materials, even city landmarks got lit up in orange. It’s not an accident; in fact, it’s the entire branding.
Orange is intense, it’s warm, it’s attention-grabbing. It perfectly sells the showgirl aesthetic, think old Vegas, cabaret feathers, the glow of the stage lights vibe. But it’s also a complete departure from the moody blues and grays of Poets. This colour choice seems like the first and loudest signal that this is a new, defiantly un-sad era.