The 77th Cannes Film Festival kicked off on Tuesday night with a dazzling display of glamour and talent at the Grand Theatre Lumiere.
Among the esteemed guests was none other than Hollywood icon Meryl Streep, who was honoured with the prestigious Honorary Palme d'Or.
As Streep graciously accepted the accolade, she couldn't help but inject her trademark wit into the moment, quipping, “I'm just so grateful that you haven't gotten sick of my face."
However, it wasn't just Streep's legendary presence that stole the spotlight. Her attire for the evening boasted a unique touch of Indian craftsmanship, adding an extra layer of allure to the red carpet affair.
Draped in a lustrous satin Dior wrap dress, Streep accessorized with a pair of exquisite earrings crafted by Indian designer Hanut Singh.
Singh has earlier adorned global icons like Madonna, Rihanna, and Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Dimple Kapadia, and Alia Bhatt with his unique pieces of jewellery.
Coming back to Cannes, among the 18 prior recipients of the honorary Palme, which was first presented in 2002 and recognizes career achievement, are Catherine Deneuve, Jane Fonda, Clint Eastwood, Agnes Varda, Jodie Foster, Tom Cruise, and, last year, Harrison Ford and Michael Douglas.
This year, two other honorary Palmes will be presented, one to Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli on May 20 (it is the first non-individual to receive one) and the other to Streep's fellow American and "New Hollywood" trailblazer George Lucas during the closing ceremony on May 25.
There’s been a whirlwind of speculation surrounding Deepika Padukone’s association with two of the most high-profile films in Indian cinema right now: Spirit and Kalki 2898 AD Part 2. The latest buzz claims she might be walking out of Kalki 2, but the truth appears far less dramatic.
While social media and gossip pages have been buzzing with unconfirmed reports suggesting Deepika demanded fixed eight-hour shifts post-motherhood, allegedly causing trouble on set, the reality is, Kalki 2 hasn’t even started filming. In fact, it’s still in pre-production. No actors, including Deepika, have officially been signed or begun any work on the sequel, according to sources close to the film.
Deepika Padukone’s team denies exit from Kalki sequel amid speculationGetty Images
Rumours linked to Spirit exit spiral into Kalki speculation
Much of the noise seems to stem from Deepika’s recent departure from Spirit, a Sandeep Reddy Vanga film starring Prabhas. Reports suggest that the actor’s demand for a work-life balance, through an eight-hour shoot schedule, a higher pay cheque and profit-sharing didn’t sit well with the team. Soon after, Triptii Dimri was announced as the film’s new lead, and director Vanga appeared to post cryptic messages online criticising an unnamed actor for violating trust and playing “dirty PR games.”
Though Deepika was never named directly, the timing of Vanga’s posts and the sudden casting change led many to draw conclusions. Vanga’s social media tirades hinted at betrayal, accusing the unnamed actor of revealing story details and undermining a younger co-star. His use of idioms like “Khundak mein billi khamba noche” only fuelled the drama.
Now, those flames have been fanned further by similar murmurs around Kalki 2. Some reports claim her role may be trimmed or cut altogether due to scheduling conflicts. But the facts don’t back it up.
Deepika Padukone remains in the spotlight as speculation fuels headlinesGetty Images
What’s really happening with Kalki 2? Despite the noise, there’s no official word from Deepika or the Kalki production team confirming any of these developments. According to insider reports, the sequel hasn’t even begun the casting process yet. “There’s no shoot, no set, no interaction, so where’s the question of on-set friction?” the source stated, shooting down reports of a professional fallout.
With the sequel still in early planning stages, any casting speculation, especially of someone being dropped seems premature.
For now, what we know is this: Deepika is navigating her career differently post-motherhood, prioritising work-life balance. Whether that means fewer films or renegotiated terms remains to be seen. But until Kalki 2 actually takes off, rumours about her exit are just that: rumours.
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Beyoncé performing with effortless grace and power for the Cowboy Carter tour
Beyoncé brought her Cowboy Carter tour to London this week, kicking off the European leg with a wild and unforgettable night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Despite steady rain and grey skies, fans showed up in full force, dressed in cowboy boots, denim, fringe, and rhinestones, turning the downpour into what many cheekily called a "rain-aissance."
Beyoncé, wearing a sparkling American flag, inspired jumpsuit, did not miss a beat. “The rain feels so good!” she shouted, flashing a grin, as cheers erupted from the crowd.
Some fans had flown in from as far as Mexico and Israel, proving Beyoncé’s global pull. For many, it was not just a concert. In fact, it was a chance to witness a once-in-a-lifetime tour.
Fans in fringe and cowboy boots dance in the downpour outside Tottenham Hotspur StadiumInstagram/beyonce
Big moments and an even bigger meaning
The nearly three-hour show delivered one jaw-dropping moment after another. Beyoncé rode a golden mechanical bull during Tyrant and later glided above the audience in a floating horseshoe while performing Jolene. The production was slick and true to Beyoncé’s unmatched sense of showmanship.
But beyond the dazzling visuals, the performance had a strong emotional core. One of the most touching highlights came when Beyoncé brought her daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi, on stage during Protector.
Beyoncé during her Cowboy Carter performance in LondonInstagram/beyonce
A tribute to heritage and legacy
The Cowboy Carter tour goes beyond glitz. With this album, Beyoncé reclaims the often-overlooked legacy of Black musicians in country music. Throughout the show, she acknowledged these roots, weaving in powerful tributes and subtle nods to history and resilience.
A sea of denim and rhinestones lights up London as Beyoncé reclaims country with joyInstagram/beyonce
Some ticket drama but no regrets
Some fans grumbled about ticket prices, especially after seeing last-minute price cuts. Tickets initially sold for up to £950 (₹99,500) but later dropped to £141 (₹14,800) for similar seats.
But as the final notes of 16 Carriages rang out, none of that seemed to matter. Beyoncé had given them something unforgettable: a stormy, sparkling night with a star who still knows how to surprise.
Whether it is dud decisions, awful acting, nepotism, terrible writing, sloppy direction, an actor in his late 50s playing a hero in his 20s, or misguided marketing, there is a lot that can be logically blamed for a Bollywood film flopping.
But in Hindi cinema – where logic is often missing – many in the industry still believe the spelling of titles and star names can determine a film’s fate. Yes, you read that correctly. They think a few extra letters can magically make all the difference.
This was perfectly illustrated by the recently released The Bhootnii – with an extra ‘i’, because why not?
Originally titled The Bhootni, the horror comedy was renamed on the sacred advice of a spiritual leader named Ayush Gupta, who presumably read the stars, lit some incense, and declared that adding an “i” would turn it into a box office smash.
Unfortunately for producer and lead actor Sanjay Dutt, the audience disagreed – and that too in spectacular fashion.
Despite horror comedies being popular in Hindi cinema right now, this flop film failed miserably. The extra “i” made absolutely no difference – but that did not stop a press release from being proudly issued, celebrating the spelling change.
The Bhootnii
The trend of stuffing film titles with extra letters has now been going on for decades – which is why so many titles look spectacularly silly. Spoiler alert: instead of becoming box office sensations, most of these films have sunk without a trace.
And it is not just film titles – stars themselves have tried tweaking their names in hopes of changing their luck. Kareena Kapoor briefly flirted with being Kariena. Vivek Oberoi attempted to save his sinking career by becoming Viveik, but that did nothing to slow the fall.
Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao, Manoj Bajpayee and Riteish Deshmukh are just some of the many actors who have changed the spelling of their names.
Currently, Abhishek Bachchan is trying to revive his fortunes by adding an extra ‘A’, now appearing as “Abhishek A Bachchan” – including in this week’s big Bollywood release Housefull 5. Somehow, a spelling change seems to have taken priority over finding strong scripts with well-written characters and actual commercial appeal.
While Bachchan is adding an ‘A’, Ajay Devgan has done the opposite – dropping one. His credit now reads “Ajay Devgn”, but that has not stopped a string of flops from piling up and outweighing his successes.
Instead of rearranging letters like a Scrabble addict, filmmakers and stars would be better off focusing on strong scripts, better acting, and films that audiences actually want to see. They should swap spelling gymnastics for spellbinding stories – or perhaps get inspired by Karan Johar.
The producer-director was once a loyal follower of the ‘K’ cult – with films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. But after watching the acclaimed Lage Raho Munna Bhai, which brilliantly mocked numerology, he had a change of heart and ditched the superstition. He went on to become one of Bollywood’s most powerful producers.
Those still clinging to spelling stunts should take a long, hard look at disasters like The Bhootnii, which failed so spectacularly.
And let’s be honest – if numerology really worked in Bollywood, every fortune teller in Mumbai would be producing weekly blockbusters. The harsh truth is that this obsession with extra letters is just a flimsy band-aid over a gaping creative wound.
With Bollywood going through its worst phase in history, more insiders are foolishly turning to numerology and extra vowels, rather than investing in strong writing, bold ideas and original content.
Throwing in an extra letter or renaming your hero is not the answer. Better films are.
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Taylor Jones, Vinit Thakkar Kyran Jones and Sony Music India team up to launch THG India supporting Indian music globally
Sony Music India has announced a new partnership with Los Angeles-based entertainment company The Hello Group (THG) to form a joint venture called THG India. The new company is set to focus on developing Indian music talent and providing them with global touring and management opportunities.
This is the first collaboration of its kind by Sony Music India on an international scale, and it comes at a time when Indian music is drawing growing attention worldwide. THG India will operate from Mumbai and work through The Hello Group’s international network, aiming to provide end-to-end support for artists, from management and touring to publishing and promotion.
Sony Music India partners with Los Angeles-based The Hello Group to launch THG India
Bridging India’s music scene with the global stage
With India’s live music industry growing rapidly, the joint venture hopes to fill a major gap in professional artist support and global touring infrastructure. While Sony Music India brings local expertise and access to its platforms, THG adds global experience and connections.
“This is a big step forward for the Indian music industry and our creative talent,” said Vinit Thakkar, Managing Director of Sony Music India. “We’re combining our knowledge of the local scene with THG’s international touring and artist development strength to help Indian artists build lasting global careers.”
Taylor Jones, CEO of The Hello Group, said THG India would help unlock the full potential of Indian talent. “There’s a wave of energy and creativity in Indian music. Our aim is to offer these artists the tools and platform to take their work to international audiences.”
Taylor Jones, Vinit Thakkar and Kyran Jones join forces to launch THG Indiagetty images
Global success stories and big names behind the venture
The Hello Group’s publishing division, which is run in partnership with Sony Music Publishing, has already seen massive success across Asia. Their work includes chart-topping releases with artists like BTS, TWICE, IVE, and The Chainsmokers. Their booking agency has handled international tours for performers such as Jeff Satur, Mark Ambor, Kang Daniel, and Greyson Chance.
Taylor Jones and Vinit Thakkar come together to launch THG India getty images
THG India now hopes to offer the same opportunities to Indian musicians, allowing them to grow both at home and abroad. Sony Music India has confirmed it will provide financial backing and creative support to build the platform.
With this move, both companies are hoping to shape the future of Indian music on a global scale.
From commanding television screens in powerful dramas to headlining box office hits, the acclaimed actor and producer has built a formidable reputation through instinct, charm, and a commitment to relatable storytelling. Along the way, he has picked up numerous awards, loyal audiences across the globe, and even crossed into international territory with his nuanced portrayal of Dr Hasnat Khan – Princess Diana’s real-life love interest – in the globally acclaimed Netflix series The Crown.
Now, Saeed returns to the big screen with this week’s Eid al-Adha release Love Guru. The romantic comedy, opposite Mahira Khan, features him as a matchmaker-turned-marriage-saboteur on a surprisingly unorthodox mission of love. Extensively shot in the UK and laced with a contemporary sensibility, the Nadeem Baig-directed comedy marks a distinct tonal shift for an actor best known for culturally rooted blockbusters.
Calm and composed during his recent London visit to promote the film, the massively popular star sat down with Eastern Eye to reflect on his celebrated journey, the making of Love Guru, reuniting with Mahira Khan, and the secret to his high success rate.
Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khangetty images
How do you reflect on your distinguished three-decade career? (Smiles) That is a tricky question. I do not have a short answer, Asjad. I have been fortunate to work across diverse genres in both film and television, as an actor and producer. I have been part of successful projects I believe in. Now, I feel ready to take on something really big – like an international production that the whole world will watch.
You have a high success rate. How do you choose your projects? I have always gone with my gut whenever possible, and it has served me well. I am instinctive and often have a sense of how an idea will take shape. I am drawn to stories that are emotionally relatable. For example, when I received the script for Mere Paas Tum Ho, I had a strong belief that it would resonate with audiences. It was emotional and grounded – that is essential for a television drama.
As a sought-after star and successful producer, what other key elements do you look for in a project? The story must be backed by strong writing, a talented cast, and a capable director. I consider all those factors. I always begin a project with the aim that it will succeed and connect with viewers. But at the heart of it, there must be a relatable story. Each character should serve a purpose – not just the lead.
Tell us more about that. You often see projects where some characters feel unnecessary – I do not believe in that. In strong dramas, every character, including those in smaller roles, must matter. If the idea is good, the story is relatable, and the cast is strong, the project will work.
Your drama serials are especially known for strong writing. Yes, that is very important. Writing comes first – the performances follow. Mere Paas Tum Ho was a massive success largely because of the powerful dialogues.
What attracted you to your new film Love Guru? Television dramas are usually serious, so I enjoy delivering fun, entertaining films for cinema audiences. I have noticed that the more entertaining a Pakistani film is, the better it performs. Love Guru is a fun, contemporary film.
This film is different from your usual work. Were you encouraged by the trailer’s positive response? Audiences enjoy my culture-specific films like London Nahi Jaunga and Punjab Nahi Jaungi, but this time I deliberately chose a contemporary romantic comedy. The trailer response gave me a lot of confidence. People said the visuals looked fresh and the cast looked great. The music and locations were also well received. It is very different from my earlier films, and I am hopeful audiences will turn out for it.
Love Gurugetty images
Tell us a little about the film. The trailer captures the essence. I play a love guru who helps people find love and get married – until he is tasked with breaking up the forthcoming wedding of the character played by Mahira (Khan). What happens next, you will have to see in the film.
What is Mahira Khan like as a co-star? She is very good and easy to work with. We have been friends and colleagues for a long time, and this is our third project together. That comfort level is there. She knows her craft, works hard, and never throws tantrums – which can happen with some co-stars. Mahira remains focused and professional, and that makes the entire process more enjoyable.
You have formed a dream team with Love Guru director Nadeem Baig, with all your films together doing well. What makes him stand out? He is a gifted storyteller and supported by a great team. We have strong mutual understanding – if I do not like something, he listens, and vice versa. I also share a strong rapport with the writer, so we have a solid creative team. Nadeem does not rely on flashy camera work for the sake of it – he focuses on content, making sure everything shown on screen feels real.
Could you elaborate on that approach? Even when a scene is far-fetched, he presents it in a believable way. In some comedies, things can become mindless – but with Nadeem, it still makes sense. That is his strength – presenting things in a way that feels like they could actually happen, which makes it more relatable.
What was it like shooting this film in the UK? (Laughs) Very expensive. Thankfully, many of our friends in the UK helped us. We had a brilliant production team who worked hard and kept us on schedule. Sometimes we travelled up to three hours for a shoot, but we always managed. The weather was a challenge – it was cold and raining – but it turned out well. We filmed in October and captured the beauty of autumn. The film has some stunning visuals.
How do you view the progress of Pakistani cinema in recent years? It was strong from 2015 to 2019. Then, it slowed down due to Covid. Films like London Nahi Jaunga and The Legend of Maula Jatt showed the potential of Pakistani cinema. If people like a film, they will come to the cinema. Streaming is great, but nothing compares to watching a film with 200–300 people on the big screen. Cinema still has that larger-than-life magic.
What was your experience like working on The Crown? I loved the entire experience. It was a completely different world. I have never seen such professionalism before. It was enriching, both as an actor and a producer. An interesting part was working on two separate episodes, each directed by different people. Season five had five directors, each handling two episodes. Each director focused only on their specific episodes, so it was fascinating to work on one role with two distinct directing styles.