Last seen in her home production The White Tiger (2021), Priyanka Chopra is presently busy promoting her eagerly awaited film The Matrix Resurrections.
The film in the popular sci-fi film franchise is written and directed by Lana Wachowski, who along with her sister Lilly had helmed the previous three titles – The Matrix in 1999, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions, both released in 2003.
Priyanka Chopra said she initially felt intimidated by the cast from the previous movies but it turned out to be a wonderful experience to work on the film that’s led by formidable women.
“When it comes to women, especially with The Matrix Resurrections, it is led by extremely formidable female characters. All of them that you see are the ones leading the action. I think that was very important to our director Lana. It was something that really matters to her, she has spoken about,” the 39-year-old actor told PTI in a Zoom interview from Los Angeles.
“The Matrix Resurrections brings back the original cast of the film series alongside a new set of characters. Keanu Reeves returns as Neo, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, and Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Christina Ricci, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jonathan Groff are the new faces in the movie franchise with Priyanka, who plays the grown-up version of Sati, a child with an important connection with Neo.
To get into the skin of Sati - earlier seen in The Matrix Revolutions as a young girl played by Tanveer Atwal - the actor said it was essential for her to understand how the character graduates over the years in the Matrix universe.
Priyanka said it was an honour to be "inducted" into the film franchise, known for redefining the action and sci-fi genre with its complex story. It's an extreme honour to be inducted or included in such a project and especially to be given the responsibility of the character of Sati, which I know is very close to Lana and it was very strategically placed in the previous movie. So, I was very excited when I got the role,” she said.
Recalling her first meeting with the director, the National Award winner said she took a flight to the US from India just to meet Wachowski after her agent's call. "I remember I was filming in India and I got a call from my agent saying, Lana wants to meet me tomorrow in San Francisco. And I got onto a flight, went straight from the airport to meet her, talk to her for a while. She asked me questions about the role and then she gave me the script and said 'Welcome to The Matrix' and it was really cool."
Sati is described, by the makers, as a young woman with wisdom that belies her years and an ability to see the truth, no matter how murky the waters.
"What was required for me was having an understanding of what happened from the time we saw her in the previous movie, and where she is right now. I worked a lot with Lana about what Sati's purpose is right now, why she is where she is, and to be able to build the adult version of where you still see the younger, Sati," she said describing the character's journey within the Matrix universe.
"Like the way we have even worked with the hair, we tried to give an homage to her. That was really fun because as an actor, character development is the best part about our job," the actor, who is seen in an intriguing appearance with loose pants, knee-high boots, and braided short buns, added.”
The Sky is Pink (2019) actor said working on the movie was a "visceral" experience. "I won't lie, as someone who's the new kid in the movie, I was very intimidated with Carrie-Anne, Keanu, and Jada Pinkett and just having the cast from the previous movies on set. But they're so wonderful, so encouraging. "Especially the new lot, as well as Yahya, Jessica, Jonathan, Neil. I was intimidated for the first few days, but after that, they were all so lovely. It was a wonderful experience because we were experiencing this really visceral thing together."
The Matrix Resurrections is set to be released in India by Warner Bros Pictures on December 22 in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
• Arijit Singh makes global music history with 151 million Spotify followers
• Surpasses Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in follower count
• Still trails in monthly listeners with 47.4 million vs. The Weeknd's 112.2 million
• Other Indians in top 25 include A R Rahman, Pritam, and Neha Kakkar
Indian playback sensation Arijit Singh has achieved a record-breaking milestone by becoming the most followed artist on Spotify, beating global icons Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in the process. With a staggering 151 million followers, the Tum Hi Ho singer now tops the list of most followed musicians on the streaming giant, according to updated rankings released by data tracking platforms Chartmasters and Volt.fm earlier this week.
Swift, one of the world’s top pop stars, holds second place with 139.6 million followers, while Ed Sheeran, who recently released an India-inspired track titled Sapphire, follows at number three with 121 million.
Although Singh leads in follower count, the monthly listener figures tell a different story. Arijit clocks in at 47.4 million monthly listeners. In comparison, The Weeknd leads with 112.2 million, followed by Ed Sheeran (98.4 million), Billie Eilish (95.1 million), and Taylor Swift (82.3 million).
This difference highlights a key distinction: followers represent loyal fans who want updates on future releases, while listeners are users who stream the artist’s songs during a given period, often influenced by recent trends or viral hits.
Arijit Singh clicked during a performance Getty Images
Indians on the global Spotify map
Arijit isn’t the only Indian name on the coveted list. A R Rahman sits at No. 14 with 65.6 million followers, Pritam is 21st with 53.4 million, and Neha Kakkar holds the 25th spot at 48.5 million. Legendary icons from the golden era of Indian music also feature Lata Mangeshkar at the 100th rank (22 million followers) and Kishore Kumar is 144th (16 million), proving their enduring legacy across generations.
From reality show to stadium shows
Arijit Singh’s journey is a modern-day music fairy tale. The 38-year-old first appeared on the TV reality show Fame Gurukul in 2005. But it wasn’t until 2013 that he truly arrived, thanks to the soulful blockbuster Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2, which turned him into an overnight star. Since then, he’s been the go-to voice for every mood: heartbreak (Channa Mereya), longing (Raabta), celebration (Kesariya), and everything in between (Phir Le Aaya Dil, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil).
Now, Arijit is taking his voice global once again with a major live concert at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, solidifying his place not just as India’s favourite singer, but a global music force to reckon with.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
Liam Gallagher arrives for the special screening of Oasis documentary "Supersonic"
Liam Gallagher issued an apology after using a racial slur in a now-deleted social media post.
The offensive post appeared just days before Oasis kicked off their reunion tour in Cardiff.
Fans criticised the singer on X, prompting him to clarify it was unintentional.
Oasis will perform over 40 shows globally, starting 5 July in Wales.
Liam Gallagher has apologised for using a racial slur in a post on X, as Oasis reunites for their first tour in 15 years. The singer shared a one-word reply on Monday that included a derogatory term aimed at East Asian people. Though he quickly deleted it, screenshots circulated online, sparking widespread criticism.
In a follow-up post on Tuesday, Gallagher wrote: “Sorry if I offended anyone with my tweet before it wasn’t intentional you know I love you all and I do not discriminate. Peace and love LG x.”
Liam Gallagher accepts Oasis' award for 'Best Album of 30 Years' Getty Images
Racial slur prompts public response ahead of tour
The post, now deleted, triggered a wave of reactions from fans, some calling the language racist. One user replied, “Liam you can’t say that,” to which Gallagher initially responded, “Why.” After further backlash, another fan warned he could get “cancelled,” prompting Gallagher to retort, “Whatever.” These responses only heightened the controversy before his eventual apology.
The term used by Gallagher has long been condemned for mocking East Asian accents and was especially criticised during the pandemic when anti-Asian hate incidents increased globally.
— (@)
Oasis set for comeback after 15-year hiatus
The controversy comes at a pivotal moment for Gallagher. Oasis, the Britpop band he co-founded with his brother Noel, is preparing for a major reunion tour kicking off Friday, 5 July, in Cardiff, Wales. The tour will include over 40 concerts across the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, and Mexico, running through November.
The band split in 2009 after years of personal tensions, but recent announcements, including an upcoming concert film directed by Steven Knight, have fuelled excitement around their long-awaited return.
Liam Gallagher plays to a sell out crowd at the Universal AmphitheatreGetty Images
Fans react with mixed emotions
While some fans expressed disappointment over the singer’s comments, others welcomed his apology and are focused on the upcoming shows. Gallagher has been active on social media in recent weeks, hyping the tour and interacting with fans, including praising a prankster who trolled Green Day with a cheeky rendition of Wonderwall.
Liam and Noel Gallagher perform together in Cardiff for the first time since 2009 Instagram/oasis
As Oasis returns to the stage, the incident may linger, but it remains to be seen whether it will cast a shadow over one of the most anticipated tours of the year.
Michael Madsen was known for blending menace with vulnerability across a 200-film career.
His breakout role as Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs remains one of the most iconic villains in cinema.
Roles in Kill Bill and Donnie Brasco cemented his status as a cult favourite and Tarantino regular.
He also surprised audiences with emotional performances in Free Willy and Thelma & Louise.
Some actors chase stardom. Michael Madsen wasn’t one of them. He didn’t charm you with a smile; he unnerved you with a stare. His voice wasn’t smooth; it was gravel scraped over concrete. He played men who lived in the shadows, spoke in grunts or chillingly calm threats, and carried violence like a familiar tool. But damn, when he was on screen, you couldn’t look away.
Madsen didn’t act tough; he was tough, and not in the movie-star sense. In a real, broken, beautiful way. These 10 roles aren’t just career highlights. They’re pieces of a man who gave us something rare: the truth, hidden in hard men with soft edges.
10 iconic Michael Madsen roles that made him Hollywood’s ultimate tough guy Getty Images
1. Mr Blonde / Vic Vega – Reservoir Dogs (1992)
This was the performance that made people remember his name, and wince at the sound of “Stuck in the Middle With You.” Sadistic but eerily calm, Mr Blonde was cinema’s most unsettling psychopath. Madsen’s slow dance with madness in the torture scene became legend. You couldn’t look away. Iconic doesn’t cover it. This is scripture!
He used to be a deadly assassin. Now he lives in a trailer, sweeping floors at a strip club. Budd is bitter, broke, and tired. But in Madsen’s hands, he wasn’t pathetic, just human. When he tells Beatrix he’s going to bury her alive, you believe it. But you also sense the pain in him, too. This was Madsen showing the flip side of the killer coin, the burnout, the regret, and the dark humour clinging to survival. His reunion with Tarantino after the Pulp Fiction miss was pure magic.
Michael Madsen as Budd aka SidewinderIMDB
3. Jimmy Lennox – Thelma & Louise (1991)
A rare crack in the tough-guy armour. As Louise’s boyfriend, Jimmy was tender and vulnerable. The way he proposed, quietly and without ego, gave the film its emotional anchor. It shattered the typecast before it even fully formed. He could do tenderness and do it damn well. Again, it proved Madsen didn’t need blood or guns to break your heart. Just honesty.
Thelma & LouiseIMDB
4. Glen – Free Willy (1993)
Nobody expected Michael Madsen in a family movie. But he surprised everyone as the gruff but caring foster father who supports a troubled kid and a whale. It was his gentlest role. It was a massive hit, proving his face could sell popcorn to kids, not just nightmares to adults. For a whole generation, this was the first time they saw a different side of him.
Free WillyIMDB
5. Sonny Black’s crew – Donnie Brasco (1997)
Thrown in with Pacino and Depp? No sweat. He wasn’t centre stage in this one, but his presence mattered. Playing a low-key mobster in Al Pacino’s crew, Madsen added quiet threat to every scene. His chemistry with Johnny Depp added tension, always teetering between trust and suspicion. He held his own effortlessly, proving his power wasn’t just in volume, but in chilling authenticity.
Donnie BrascoAlex on Film
6. Detective Bob – Sin City (2005)
Brief, but slick. In Robert Rodriguez’s grim, graphic world, Madsen slipped in perfectly as a shady cop who clearly had seen too much. His dialogue was sharp, his smirk even sharper. He felt like he belonged in that black-and-white world of revenge and ruin. Honestly, we bought it!
Sin CityIMDB
7. Joe Gage – The Hateful Eight (2015)
Stuck in a snowy cabin with strangers, Madsen’s Joe Gage claimed to be writing a memoir. But you never bought it. He was too quiet, too calculating. His stillness screamed suspicion. Tarantino knew what he was doing when he brought Madsen back into the fold. Classic Madsen menace, refined like aged whisky.
The Hateful Eight IMDB
8. Detective Eddie Hall – Mulholland Falls (1996)
Old-school noir suited him. In this 1950s crime story, he played a no-nonsense cop with a worn-out charm. The suits, the cigarettes, the world-weariness, it let him lean hard into that trademark cool. He wasn’t the star, but he owned every scene with brute force and exhausted cynicism that felt lived-in. Pure noir cool.
Mulholland FallsVirtual History
9. Vince – Kill Me Again (1989)
Before Tarantino, there was Kill Me Again. This early role showed flashes of what would become his signature: ice-cold menace and unpredictable rage. This is where the “lethal quiet man” persona truly crystallised. Vince was brutal but controlled, always one bad moment away from exploding. You saw the blueprint of what Tarantino would later amplify into legend.
Kill Me Again
10. Sheriff Hackett – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
A tiny, meta cameo, but oh so perfect. Playing a laconic TV sheriff in Tarantino’s ode to old Hollywood? In Tarantino’s nostalgic love letter to old Hollywood, Madsen turned up as a TV cowboy: raspy, rugged, and perfectly cast. It felt like a quiet goodbye, or maybe a wink to all the dusty sheriffs he could’ve played.
Michael Madsen attends the Closing Ceremony and Fistful of Dollars Screening Getty Images
More than a tough guy
Madsen never chased the spotlight. He just did the work and let the work speak. He gave us characters we didn’t always like but couldn’t forget. He was the terrifying villain you couldn’t forget (Blonde), the weary killer you almost pitied (Budd), and the tough guy who could surprisingly break your heart (Jimmy, Glen).
In a world full of actors trying to be cool, Michael Madsen was cool, because he didn’t try. He just was. That’s why he mattered. And why he always will.
Keep ReadingShow less
Katy Perry Orlando Bloom Choose Co Parenting Future After Nine Years
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have ended their nine-year on-off relationship, confirmed via reps.
The couple says the focus has now shifted to co-parenting their daughter, Daisy.
Perry got emotional on stage during the Australian leg of her tour amid split rumours.
Bloom posted cryptic quotes about loneliness and new beginnings.
After weeks of speculation, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have officially confirmed they are no longer together. The singer and actor, who have been in a high-profile relationship since 2016, released a joint statement through their representatives, saying they’ve “shifted” their relationship to focus on co-parenting their daughter. The pair, who got engaged in 2019 and welcomed daughter Daisy Dove Bloom in 2020, had reportedly been living increasingly separate lives in recent months.
Katy Perry Orlando Bloom Choose Co Parenting Future After Nine YearsGetty Images
Couple to continue as co-parents
In the statement released via their representatives, the couple acknowledged the growing media interest in their relationship, clarifying that they’ve been navigating a transition “over the past many months.” They added that their priority remains raising Daisy in a stable and loving environment. “They will continue to be seen together as a family,” the statement read, emphasising their commitment to respectful co-parenting.
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom focus on raising their daughter with love and respect Getty Images
Signs of distance: Solo appearances and emotional moments
Bloom recently attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding in Venice without Perry, fuelling breakup rumours. Meanwhile, Perry was wrapping up the Australian leg of her Lifetimes world tour. On stage in Adelaide, fans captured footage of the singer holding back tears as she thanked the audience, saying, “Thank you for always being there for me, Australia. It means the world,” before launching into Firework.
— (@)
Cryptic social media posts spark rumours
Adding to the speculation, Bloom shared a series of introspective posts on Instagram. One included a Buddha quote: “Each day is a new beginning. What we do today is what matters most.” Others included Carl Jung’s reflections on loneliness and human connection, which fans interpreted as hints at personal turmoil.
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom end their long running romance and plan to raise their daughter together as a family
Long road with no wedding in sight
Perry and Bloom first met at a Golden Globes after-party in 2016, got engaged three years later, and welcomed their child in 2020. A wedding had been planned in Japan but was postponed due to the pandemic and never rescheduled. Both have been married before: Perry to comedian Russell Brand and Bloom to model Miranda Kerr. This marks another high-profile chapter closed in both their personal lives.
Keep ReadingShow less
SSMB29 brings Priyanka Chopra back to Bollywood in high-stakes Rajamouli film
Priyanka Chopra Jonas confirms return to Indian cinema with SS Rajamouli’s SSMB29.
She calls the film not a comeback, but a “homecoming” to India and Bollywood.
SSMB29 stars Mahesh Babu, with Prithviraj Sukumaran rumoured to play the antagonist.
The film’s next shooting schedule will take place in Kenya; budget reportedly over £94 million (₹1,000 crore).
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is officially back on Indian screens after several years of focusing on international projects. But for the actor, who has spent the last decade working in Hollywood, this is more than just a comeback. In fact, it is a return to where it all began.
Priyanka Chopra calls 'SSMB29' her homecoming as she reunites with Indian cinemaGetty Images
She misses Hindi films, says filming in India feels like ‘home’
While promoting her Hollywood action-comedy Heads of State, Chopra opened up about her deep connection to Indian cinema. In a recent interview, she said, “I miss Hindi movies, and I miss India so much. I’m working in India this year, and I’m really excited about that.”
The actor, last seen in a Hindi film with The Sky Is Pink (2019), has since taken on major roles in international productions such as The White Tiger and Citadel. But SSMB29 will be her first major Indian theatrical release in years.
Priyanka Chopra teams up with SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu for mega film SSMB29Getty Images
SSMB29 to feature Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran
Directed by Baahubali and RRR filmmaker SS Rajamouli, SSMB29 is being made on an estimated budget of £94 million (₹1,000 crore), making it one of India’s costliest productions to date. The film stars Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu in the lead, and Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran is expected to play the antagonist. Rajamouli confirmed that casting is still underway, with only Mahesh Babu officially signed on at the time of the last public update.
Mahesh Babu’s dramatic new look for SSMB 29 sparks a social media frenzy as fans compare him to Mufasa and a Hollywood action hero Getty Images/ Twitter
A globe-trotting adventure with massive scale
The next phase of filming is scheduled in Kenya, with earlier shoots already completed in Hyderabad, including a Holi sequence. Priyanka shared behind-the-scenes moments on Instagram with a caption that read, “With the blessings of Shri Balaji, a new chapter begins.” According to sources, the film will bring together mythology with action and is being likened to an Indian take on Indiana Jones. Sets resembling Varanasi are being built in Ramoji Film City to bring the film’s narrative to life.
SS Rajamouli recreates Varanasi at Ramoji Film City for a key action sequence in SSMB29 Getty Images
Heads of State release and Priyanka’s busy international schedule
While fans await more details about SSMB29, Priyanka’s latest Hollywood project Heads of State premiered on 2 July on Prime Video. The film features her alongside Idris Elba and John Cena in a spy-action comedy set across multiple continents. For now, though, her Indian fans are thrilled to see her return to home turf, with SSMB29 already among the most anticipated releases in Indian cinema.