Shilpa Shetty is on a roll. After announcing her comeback with the film Nikamma, the actress has now been roped in for Priyadarshan’s Hungama 2. The actress will be seen playing the role of a glamorous, career-oriented woman in the film.
A source told a tabloid, "Even though it is being touted as a sequel to Hungama, this film is not a continuation of the 2003 hit and has a different storyline. Shilpa will play a glamorous, career-oriented woman who finds herself at the center of a hilarious misunderstanding. Her knack for comedy has remained largely untapped in the films she did earlier. So when this role came her way, she jumped at the idea."
While talking about casting Shilpa Shetty, Priyadarshan, who is making his Bollywood comeback after seven years, stated, “For this role, I wanted an actor who has ruled the film industry as the character is integral [to the narrative]. Shilpa plays a glamorous and the most hilarious character in the movie. She is paired opposite Paresh Rawal. We have titled the film Hungama 2 because it has funny situations arising from confusion and misunderstandings, and thus, has the spirit of Hungama."
2003 release Hungama starred Paresh Rawal, Akshaye Khanna, Aftab Shivdasani and Rimi Sen. It was a hilarious film and was a super hit at the box office. Now, after 17 years Priyadarshan is coming with the sequel to the film. Apart from Shilpa Shetty and Paresh Rawal, the movie will also star Meezaan Jaaferi and Pranitha Subhash.
Meezaan made his Bollywood debut this year with Malaal. Pranitha has done many films down South and will make her Bollywood debut with Bhuj: The Pride of India.
Amitabh Bachchan has made yet another high-value move in Ayodhya’s fast-growing property market. The veteran actor has reportedly bought a 25,000-square-foot plot for £3.7 million (₹40 crore), marking his fourth land purchase in the temple city within a year.
The newly purchased land is located near The Sarayu, an upscale real estate project where Bachchan had previously invested £1.4 million (₹14.5 crore). This recent deal adds to a string of property investments he has made in the area since the development of the Ram Temple began drawing national attention and infrastructure projects to Ayodhya.
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This is not just about business. A large 54,000-square-foot plot registered under the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Trust, named after his late father, is also part of his Ayodhya holdings. There are reports that a memorial is being planned on that site to honour the poet, offering a personal touch to what appears to be a wider strategic expansion.
Bachchan’s interest in Ayodhya real estate began last year, when he bought a 5,372-square-foot plot for £440,000 (₹4.54 crore) just before the Ram Temple’s inauguration. Since then, his name has become increasingly tied to the city’s transformation into a high-profile spiritual and tourism hub.
Amitabh Bachchan strengthens his ties to the temple town with another high-value dealGetty Images
In addition to Ayodhya, he has been active in Mumbai’s property circuit. He recently sold a duplex flat in Andheri for £8 million (₹83 crore), a property he had purchased for £3 million (₹31 crore) in 2021, nearly tripling his investment. In 2023, he and his son Abhishek also jointly purchased 10 apartments, valued at £2.4 million (₹25 crore).
Just days before the Ayodhya purchase, Bachchan had also invested £1.9 million (₹20 crore) in a real estate firm run by Bollywood producer Anand Pandit, putting £960,000 (₹10 crore) into two separate projects. These back-to-back deals suggest a deliberate diversification of assets, with Ayodhya becoming a central piece in that plan.
With multiple real estate deals this year Amitabh Bachchan’s property empire keeps expandingGetty Images
According to Jaya Bachchan’s election affidavit from last year, the Bachchan family’s total assets stood at £152 million (₹1,578 crore), with £70.5 million (₹729.77 crore) in immovable assets alone. With Amitabh’s continued property acquisitions, those figures are almost certainly higher now.
Whether it is personal legacy or calculated investing or both, Amitabh Bachchan’s real estate footprint is growing fast, and Ayodhya is clearly central to his long-term vision.
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Hailey Bieber celebrates Rhode’s £800 million sale with fans calling her the real boss in the Bieber household
Hailey Bieber is riding high after her skincare label Rhode was bought for $1 billion (₹84,00,00,00,000) by e.l.f. Beauty, a big leap for the 28-year-old who launched the brand in 2022. The deal includes £480 million (₹50,40,00,00,000) in cash, e.l.f. stock worth £160 million (₹16,80,00,00,000), and a potential £160 million (₹16,80,00,00,000) more depending on how well the brand performs over the next three years.
Hailey isn’t just cashing out now; she’s stepping up. She’ll now serve as Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation at Rhode, while also becoming a strategic advisor at e.l.f. Beauty. In her announcement, she said the deal felt like the beginning of a new chapter and credited her team and customers for their role in Rhode’s growth.
While Hailey’s career hits new heights, her husband Justin Bieber is making headlines for less celebratory reasons. Reports have surfaced claiming he’s been facing serious financial setbacks, including an $8 million (₹67,20,00,000) debt from his cancelled 2022 Justice tour. Insiders suggest the pop star’s spending habits and questionable financial management may have led to these issues.
Despite selling his music catalogue for $200 million (₹16,80,00,00,000) in 2022, sources say Justin’s fortune has taken a hit, and he was reportedly lent money by former manager Scooter Braun to cover the tour fallout. There were even murmurs last year that Justin considered suing his financial advisors for mishandling funds, though his team denied all claims of money trouble.
Justin Bieber breaks his silence on marriage rumours and health concerns following viral Coachella video Getty Images
Meanwhile, fans have been closely watching the couple’s dynamic. Hailey’s billion-dollar win sparked online chatter suggesting she should “take the money and run,” with several social media users urging her to leave Justin, citing past moments where he appeared dismissive or distant. His quiet reaction to her business success, posting a photo with no caption, fuelled further speculation.
Still, the couple publicly appear united. Justin recently posted photos of himself embracing Hailey, though fans debated whether it felt supportive or staged. With Hailey now officially the top earner in the Bieber household, many are wondering how this shift will impact their relationship.
For now, Hailey’s focus remains on building Rhode into a global name, proving she’s more than just a celebrity wife, she’s a top player in the beauty business.
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Two men were sentenced in the US for a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of four Indian nationals near the Canada-US border in 2022. (Representational image:iStock)
TWO human traffickers were sentenced on Wednesday for their roles in a smuggling operation that led to the deaths of four Indian nationals in 2022, the US Department of Justice said.
Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison for organising the logistics of the operation, while co-conspirator Steve Anthony Shand, 50, was sentenced to over six years for picking up migrants in the United States.
A jury found the pair guilty of their roles in what officials described as a "large-scale human smuggling operation that brought Indian nationals to Canada on fraudulent student visas and then smuggled them into the United States," according to the DOJ.
In January 2022, Patel and Shand tried to smuggle 11 Indian nationals from Canada into the United States on foot in severe weather conditions. The DOJ said the recorded wind chill was -37.8 degrees Celsius (-36 degrees Fahrenheit).
A US Border Patrol agent found Shand’s van stuck in the snow in Minnesota, where Shand claimed there were no other people stranded.
But five more people came out of the fields, and one of them was airlifted to a hospital for lifesaving care.
Shand was arrested with two migrants, while the family of four was found later by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Their frozen bodies were discovered in an isolated area in Canada.
"The boy was wrapped in a blanket with his father's frozen glove covering his face," the DOJ said.
"Every time I think about this case I think about this family -- including two beautiful little children -- who the defendants left to freeze to death in a blizzard," said Acting US Attorney Lisa D Kirkpatrick.
(With inputs from AFP)
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FILE PHOTO: Pernod Ricard's brand names are seen inside its India office in Gurugram, India, April 28, 2022. REUTERS/Aditya Kalra
THE recently finalised UK-India free trade agreement (FTA) is set to dramatically reduce prices for British imports in India while opening significant new markets for Scottish exports, industry leaders have confirmed.
Under the FTA announced in May, India will slash duties on UK whisky and gin from 150 per cent to 75 per cent immediately, with further reductions to 40 per cent over the next decade.
The agreement, expected to add £25.5 billion annually to the current two-way trade of £41bn, will make premium Scotch whiskies considerably more affordable for Indian consumers.
"The FTA is expected to improve access to premium Scotch whiskies by making them more competitively priced, as reductions in import duties on bottled-in-origin products will translate into lower retail prices across most states," said a spokesperson for Pernod Ricard India, the country's leading spirits company.
Pernod Ricard India, which owns brands including Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet and Royal Salute, described the agreement as "a positive step forward for both the industry and consumers".
The company's rival, Diageo, which owns Johnny Walker, has predicted "high single digit" price reductions for consumers alongside additional volume growth.
However, industry experts suggest the impact on India-made foreign liquor (IMFL) will be minimal, as these products remain at significantly lower price points. Pernod Ricard confirmed that brands such as Blenders Pride, Imperial Blue and Royal Stag would see little change in pricing.
The agreement extends beyond spirits to unlock entirely new markets for Scottish produce. Downing Street highlighted that the FTA had "unlocked a new salmon market through our deal with India, with tariffs dropping from 33 per cent to zero per cent".
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, welcomed the development, stating: "Securing frictionless access to key markets such as the EU, along with expanding opportunities in India, is crucial to protect our producers from unnecessary barriers like tariffs and red tape."
Prime minister Keir Starmer stressed the broader economic benefits for Scotland, saying: "These trade deals deliver long-term security for people in Scotland. They will create opportunities for more seamless trade and attract inward investment to grow the economy, making a difference to people's lives."
He added that consumers would benefit from "lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Scotland".
Business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the India deal, alongside recent agreements with the US and EU, as evidence that "this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need".
Secretary of state for Scotland Ian Murray highlighted the diverse opportunities: "From our world-renowned whisky distilleries to our cutting-edge green energy sector, Scotland has so much to offer international markets."
The FTA has also received cautious support from Indian producers. Goa-based John Distillers, makers of Paul John whisky, called the agreement "a significant step" towards strengthening bilateral trade, while acknowledging potential short-term challenges for domestic products.
"This may have a short-term impact on Indian products in India, however, we are confident about the quality of our products and believe we can rise to the challenge," the company said, expressing hopes for improved market access for Indian products in the UK.
The agreement also covers soft drinks and food exports, which the UK government says will "ramp up" Scotland's export economy.
With formal signing expected in the coming weeks, industry leaders are now awaiting final details of the FTA implementation.
It’s been nearly two years since Ms. Marvel made its debut on Disney+, and while fans have been waiting for news about a second season, actor Aramis Knight has shared a fairly grim update. Knight, who played the character Red Dagger (Kareem) in the series, revealed that he hasn’t heard anything about a return and doesn’t think it’s happening anytime soon.
Speaking at the Karate Kid: Legends premiere in New York, Knight admitted that the chances of Season 2 seem slim. “I don’t think so,” he said when asked if he’ll be back. “It’s been a while now. I’d love to return, but things didn’t line up, COVID, scheduling, and maybe even some creative shifts. I’m still waiting on a call, but I haven’t heard anything.”
Knight mentioned that he was initially supposed to appear in more Marvel projects, but none of those plans materialised. While he joked that Kamala Khan might have him on speed dial for a Young Avengers team-up, his tone made it clear that there's been no movement behind the scenes.
Ms. Marvel, which premiered in June 2022, introduced audiences to Kamala Khan, a Muslim teen from New Jersey who discovers her superpowers and identity. The show received praise for its fresh perspective, young energy, and cultural representation. Kamala then made the leap to the big screen with The Marvels in 2023, where she appeared alongside other MCU heroes.
Red Dagger actor Aramis Knight says he hasn’t heard from Marvel and doubts the show’s returnGetty Images
Talks about Season 2 had been floating around since the series ended, but nothing official has come out. In a podcast interview in 2023, co-director Adil El Arbi mentioned that any plans for a follow-up were on pause until after The Marvels released. Unfortunately, that film didn’t perform well at the box office which may have added to the uncertainty.
Marvel Studios hasn’t officially cancelled Ms. Marvel, but they’re in the middle of reorganising their television content. Several shows are being restructured or delayed, and Ms. Marvel may simply be caught in the middle of this shift.
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