Kartik Aaryan has always been a crowd-puller. The thunderous performance of his previous outings such as Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), Luka Chuppi (2019) and Pati Patni Aur Woh (2019) bears testimony to his soaring popularity as a bankable actor and the power he is able to wield over his audiences.
Having carved a niche for himself in the rom-com space, Aaryan is now trying to explore new territory with his upcoming thriller Dhamaka. Directed by Ram Madhvani of Neerja (2016) and Aarya (2020) fame, the film has been creating a lot of buzz ever since it was announced in 2020. And when the makers dropped its official trailer on Tuesday at a star-studded event in Mumbai, fans were thoroughly impressed with the actor’s never-seen-before avatar and the gripping plotline.
Stepping into the shoes of an ex-journalist caught between the conundrum of his career and conscience, Aaryan manages to leave an indelible impression on audiences’ minds with the opening scenes of the trailer. Taking the internet by storm, the trailer received rave reviews from critics and fans and went on to garner over 38 million digital views across platforms in absolutely no time.
The resounding reception the trailer has received from the audience and critics alike speaks volumes about Aaryan’s ability to pick up the right scripts and do full justice to his characters. The fans are psyched up about seeing their favourite actor in the role of a journalist called Arjun Pathak. Going by the response the trailer has registered, it is safe to say that Aaryan is on his way to adding one more hit to his resume.
Dhamaka, which has been shot in a record time of 10 days, is an intense action-thriller that uncovers the story of a journalist, Arjun Pathak, who is thrown into a fast-paced game of betrayal. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala under RSVP Movies, the much-anticipated film is slated to premiere on Netflix on November 19, 2021.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
The singer jokingly texted Clairo saying, "Let's f**k her up," sparking an online frenzy
Why Charli XCX jokingly declared war on Peppa Pig after one viral comment
Highlights
What started as a playful celebrity game has turned into one of the internet's most unexpected viral moments, with Charli XCX jokingly threatening to "f**k up" Peppa Pig after the beloved cartoon character appeared to dismiss singer Clairo.
The exchange quickly spread across social media, drawing reactions from fans and fellow musicians, while turning an unlikely clash between a pop star and a fictional children's character into a trending talking point.
Peppa Pig's viral remark sparked the joke
The playful exchange began during Peppa Pig's appearance in Pitchfork's Over/Under game, where the animated character rated a selection of music artists.
While expressing admiration for acts including PinkPantheress and The Beatles, Peppa responded to Clairo by saying, "I don't know her," a line widely recognised as a reference to Mariah Carey's famous response when asked about Jennifer Lopez.
The remark, accompanied by a knowing glance at the camera, quickly gained traction online.
Charli XCX rushed to Clairo's defence
After seeing the clip, Charli XCX privately messaged Clairo, writing, "Let's f**k her up," alongside a screenshot of the viral post.
Clairo later shared the exchange on social media, prompting thousands of reactions from fans, many of whom responded with pig and bacon-themed jokes.
PinkPantheress, whom Peppa had praised in the original video, also joined the conversation, posting a message supporting Clairo.
As the exchange continued, Clairo responded to the growing attention with humour, replying to posts before eventually telling followers, "ok that's enoughhhhh lolllllllllll."
Some fans joked that the viral moment was the perfect opportunity for the singer to announce new music, though Clairo replied that she did not have anything ready to share.
Her most recent album, Charm, was released in 2024, with its accompanying tour concluding in 2025.
Charli XCX keeps her focus on new music
While the online joke continued to gather momentum, Charli XCX did not publicly add to the exchange.
Instead, the singer has been focusing on promoting her upcoming album, Music, Fashion, Film, which is scheduled for release on July 24.
Although fans speculated that one of the track titles could be a playful nod to the viral exchange, there has been no indication that the album references the light-hearted social media moment.