No one had thought that a lanky boy who debuted in films, without much fanfare, with a low-budget movie called Masaan (2015) would soon emerge as one of the most sought-after actors in Bollywood. We are, without an ounce of doubt, talking about star performer Vicky Kaushal who is being hailed as the next big thing in the Hindi film industry.
Kaushal had a terrific 2018 as all his Bollywood releases – Raazi, Sanju and Manmarziyan – went on to garner both loads of money and appreciation from audiences. After capping off 2018 with four movies, including the Netflix release Love Per Square Foot, the actor rings in 2019 with Uri: The Surgical Strike, a film based on Indian army’s covert mission to destroy terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to avenge the ruthless killings of 18 Indian jawans on 18th September, 2016, near the town of Uri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Recently, Eastern Eye correspondent Mohnish Singh caught up with Vicky Kaushal at a popular sea-facing hotel in Mumbai. The actor was in a hurry as he was getting late to catch a flight to Delhi, but he did squeeze out some time to sit down with us for a brief interaction. Read here what the actor has to say about his new film Uri: The Surgical Strike, how he looks back at the year gone by, and much more.
You are the most important person in the industry right now as every filmmaker wants to work with you. How do you feel?
To be very honest with you, those are very sweet words, but I am nowhere close to being the most important person in the industry. I have just begun my career. I just had a wonderful year. I hope 2019 turns out to be equally good.
How do you look back at 2018?
It has been a great year. And I really feel grateful to God and the people who gave me several opportunities and, of course, the audience who appreciated my work. It has just been amazing. I got to do some great work with some great people and now I am getting to hear great words for my performances. So, yeah, it has just been wonderful.
You started 2018 with Love Per Square Foot, which premiered on Netflix, followed by Raazi, Sanju and Manmarziyan. In all these films, you played characters which were amazingly different from one another. What is the secret of your versatility, Vicky?
I just got the opportunity to work with very versatile directors. As an actor, everybody aims at taking up different roles and try to do justice with each and every role. But when you get to work with good directors, you automatically perform to the best of your ability and, in the process, great performances happen.
Tell us something about your new film Uri: The Surgical Strike. Can we say it has been the most challenging role of your career so far?
It was the most exhausting experience I ever had while shooting for a film. I devoted around 6-7 months only to prepare for my character. I have never done that before in my career. And then two and a half months went into continuous shooting, out of which about 30-35 days were for filming action sequences which were very tiring. But I did my best because an opportunity like this does not come your way every day.
We have no idea how the film is going to fare at the box-office. We do not know whether it will make money or not. But we know one thing for a fact that we did our best. We gave our sweat and blood to the film. We would have not toiled away more than what we did. Now whether the audience likes it or not, it is totally up to them.
How much did you know about the Uri attack before you were approached for the film? And how much you learned after coming onboard?
The term “Surgical Strike” was something which I heard for the first time after the operation was executed on 29th September, 2016. Before the strikes, I had generally heard about wars and all. I had heard about the Kargil war when we all were growing up. But surgical strike was something very new to me. It was the first time when I heard it. I first heard about it when the army addressed media after the strike. I was like, ‘What is surgical strike?’ After reading about it in newspapers and watching debates and news bulletins on television, I understood a bit about it that how our army planned the mission and covertly executed it. They infiltrated PoK and killed around 30 militants and came back unscathed.
Even after knowing about the strikes through various mediums, I was still curious to know more about it. I never knew the details. So, when the script of Uri came to me, the actor in me sat aside as the citizen in me wanted to know everything about it. As I was leafing through the pages of the script, I came to learn about so many interesting things. The entire planning for the strikes was carried out just within eleven days, and you will get to see what all happened on each and every day in our film. I feel Uri is an important film and every Indian citizen should watch it.
Was there any goosebumps-raising moment during the shoot of the film?
Not one but many. When I was training with the army, I used to get goosebumps every now and then, because it was an exhausting experience. Whenever I finished one task, some jawan would come and say that it was just a trailer (laughs). But it was also an honour for me that I got to play a role like this. As an actor, I feel blessed that I got to live like them for some time.
Whenever you speak to jawans and listen to their stories, you cannot help getting goosebumps. I would be lost in their stories about their probation period, their training and special missions. They are the real heroes of our country. We are the ones who walk away with all the limelight, but the real heroes of our country are our jawans.
What do you have to say about people who do not think twice before trolling films like Uri? Some are of the opinion that films like this promote jingoism and hyper-nationalism.
See, you have to be very realistic about the fact that no matter what, you will have to face varied opinions from people. Especially, Twitter is a place where it is easy to just throw an opinion because no one is going to revert. But that is okay. If you do something creative and opinions are pouring in, negative or positive, everything is welcome. It is at least instigating a discussion, which is great. Having said that, I would like to say that everyone should watch the film before forming an opinion. All their doubts will be cleared after they see the film. We would really like that they find their answers in the movie. We are not going to talk about anything on Twitter.
Directed by debutant filmmaker Aditya Dhar, Uri: The Surgical Strike hits theatres on 11th January.
Wireless Festival 2025 runs from 11–13 July in Finsbury Park, London
Drake to headline all three nights of the sold-out event
New acts include ODUMODUBLVCK, SahBabii, Darkoo and Uncle Waffles
Up to 150,000 attendees expected across the weekend
Final line-up revealed ahead of 20th anniversary festival
Further acts have been confirmed for the 2025 edition of Wireless Festival, as Finsbury Park prepares to host the three-day music event from Friday 11 July to Sunday 13 July. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the UK’s biggest urban music festival, which has evolved into a major platform for rap, R&B, afrobeats and grime.
The 2025 event made headlines after it was announced that Canadian rapper Drake would headline all three nights — a first for the festival — sparking record-breaking ticket sales. The festival sold out within minutes.
Who's performing this year?
The full line-up now includes a mix of global headliners and emerging talent. Previously announced artists include:
Burna Boy
PARTYNEXTDOOR
Summer Walker
Vybz Kartel
Boy Better Know
Popcaan
Leon Thomas
BigXThaPlug
Lancey Foux
Nemzzz
Spice
Masicka
Newly added names to the roster include Nigerian rapper ODUMODUBLVCK, Atlanta’s SahBabii, and UK-based artists Darkoo and Odeal. Saturday’s Old Spice Stage will be headlined by Fimiguerrero, while Uncle Waffles, a leading figure in the amapiano scene, will close the festival on Sunday.
Also joining the line-up are rising R&B artists SAILORR and Nippa, along with a wave of homegrown UK talent including Chy Cartier, kwn, Len, YT, and Skeete.
New experiences and installations
In addition to live performances, festival goers can engage with Pass the Aux, a music-sharing installation on site. The setup allows attendees to print Polaroid song recommendations, inspired by West African studio photography. The project is a collaboration between the V&A Museum and artist-in-residence Michael Akuagwu.
Festival background and impact
Wireless began in Hyde Park as a rock and pop festival, but since relocating to Finsbury Park in 2019, it has cemented its reputation as a leading celebration of hip-hop, afrobeats, and youth culture.
Despite ongoing opposition from local campaigners, Festival Republic signed a five-year deal with Haringey Council in 2023 to continue hosting Wireless at the site. The council has defended the partnership, noting that the event generates significant income for park maintenance.
Last weekend, the park hosted major rock gigs, and further electronic music events are scheduled in August featuring Honey Dijon, CamelPhat, and ANOTR.
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This film marks the first cinematic release under the new unified DC Universe banner
First reactions to Superman (2025) praise its action, humour and emotional tone
Directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as Superman
Premiered in Los Angeles ahead of 11 July theatrical release
Fans and critics call it a strong launch for the new DC Studios era
Superman early reviews call it “exciting” and “hopeful”
Following its premiere in Los Angeles on Monday night, the first social media reactions to Superman have begun to emerge — and they are largely positive. Though full reviews will be published closer to the 11 July release date, critics, journalists and early viewers have shared their first impressions online.
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What fans and critics are saying
“A terrific start for the new DC Studios,” – Erik Davis, Fandango Film journalist Erik Davis praised Superman as a promising launchpad for DC Studios under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
“Loaded with exhilarating action set pieces and well-placed humour and levity,” – Perri Nemiroff, Collider Collider’s Perri Nemiroff highlighted the film’s balance of action and character-driven storytelling.
“Superman delivers on heart, humour and heroism. David Corenswet is perfectly cast,” – @TheNerdyCritic on X A fan reaction emphasised the emotional tone of the film, calling it a “Superman story we’ve been waiting for”.
“Hopeful, fun, and visually impressive — Superman is back!” – @FilmFanCentral Another viewer on social media described the reboot as a return to form for the character and the franchise.
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Meet the new Superman cast
Superman stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. The cast also includes:
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl
Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho
Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific
Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard
James Gunn’s first film under new DC Studios
Directed by James Gunn, this film marks the first cinematic release under the new unified DC Universe banner, co-led by Gunn and Peter Safran since their appointment in October 2022.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn said:
“People are looking for heroes right now... Superman is that.”
Safran added earlier this year that Superman is intended to bring clarity and cohesion to the DC brand, following years of fragmented storytelling by different creative teams.
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What’s next for DC Studios?
Superman launches the new DC Universe (DCU), with upcoming projects including:
Lanterns, an HBO Max series focused on Green Lantern
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, set to release in 2026
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Superman releases in cinemas worldwide on 11 July 2025.
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The brand’s use of a traditional Indian design without acknowledgement
Neena Gupta posts a video wearing Kolhapuri chappals gifted by late actor Laxmikant Berde
Joins Kareena Kapoor in highlighting resemblance to a Prada sandal design
Luxury brand showcased similar footwear at Milan Fashion Week without reference to Indian origins
Both actresses emphasised the value of original handmade designs
Neena Gupta backs Kolhapuri chappals after Prada controversy
Veteran Indian actress Neena Gupta has weighed in on the ongoing conversation around Prada’s recent footwear collection after actress Kareena Kapoor earlier pointed out the brand’s use of a traditional Indian design without acknowledgement.
In a video shared on Instagram, Gupta showcased a pair of handmade Kolhapuri chappals gifted to her by the late actor Laxmikant Berde. Sharing the story behind the slippers, she said, “So, these Kolhapur slippers are in great demand these days. Once I did something with Laxmikant Berde—I don't remember what it was—so I asked him, can you get me these slippers from Kolhapur? He said yes. So he got them for me. This is the most beautiful slippers I have ever had. Most beautiful and handmade. I love them. Thank you, Laxmikant. You are not there anymore, but love you.”
Gupta concluded her post with a caption that read, “Real toh real hota hai..”, praising the authenticity and craftsmanship of traditional Indian footwear.
Gupta’s post comes shortly after Kareena Kapoor’s Instagram story where she posted a photo of her Kolhapuri chappals with the caption, “Sorry not Prada…but my OG Kolhapuri.” The comment was interpreted as a subtle response to Prada’s new sandal design, which many users online noted bore a strong resemblance to the traditional Indian style.
Prada presented the footwear at its Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 show in Milan on 22 June. The design, referred to as ‘Toe Ring Sandals’, did not include any reference to its resemblance to the Indian Kolhapuri chappals, sparking debate over cultural appropriation and lack of credit to traditional artisans.
Current projects
Kareena Kapoor was last seen in Singham Again, alongside Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Tiger Shroff.
Neena Gupta recently appeared in Metro In Dino, which was released on 4 July.
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Katy Perry relaxes on deck in a black bikini as she chats with friends
Katy Perry seen for the first time since confirming split with Orlando Bloom.
The singer relaxed on a yacht in Capri with daughter Daisy and close friends.
Representatives say the couple has shifted focus to co-parenting after months of changes.
Bloom shared cryptic quotes on loneliness while Perry broke down on stage in Australia.
Katy Perry appears to be embracing single life with warmth and grace after confirming her split from actor Orlando Bloom. Just days after their breakup statement, the pop star was seen enjoying a yacht holiday in Capri with her daughter Daisy and longtime friends.
Perry looked composed and at ease as she spent time on the water, marking her first public appearance since the relationship announcement. Dressed in a black bikini, with her hair tied back in a sleek bun, the singer was photographed laughing, hugging friends, and sharing moments with her 4½-year-old daughter.
Katy Perry with longtime friend Michael Kives during her getawayTwitter/info katy perry
Katy Perry seen in good spirits on yacht holiday
While the news of her separation from Bloom was still fresh, Perry looked relaxed and comfortable aboard the luxury yacht in Italy. She was spotted embracing former Hollywood agent Michael Kives, now a well-known investor, who is a close friend. Also on board was venture capitalist Ben Schwerin.
Photos showed Perry bonding with Daisy, holding her in her arms and smiling. The mother-daughter duo wore coordinated floral outfits earlier during the trip. Fans online praised Perry’s appearance and her apparent strength through the transition, with one user writing, “She hasn’t aged at all. Absolute queen energy.”
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Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom breakup confirmed
The outing came just days after Perry and Bloom issued a joint statement confirming their breakup. Their representatives shared that the couple had been "shifting their relationship over the past many months" and would now focus on co-parenting. They added, “Orlando and Katy will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is, and always will be raising their daughter with love, stability, and mutual respect.”
The pair had been together for nearly nine years, first meeting in 2016 at a Golden Globes afterparty. Their on-off romance included a brief breakup in 2017, a Valentine’s Day engagement in 2019, and the birth of their daughter in August 2020. Their wedding plans were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were never rescheduled.
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom focus on raising their daughter with love and respect Getty Images
Orlando Bloom reflects on loneliness post-split
While Perry vacationed in Italy, Bloom made headlines of his own, attending the high-profile wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez solo. He later posted cryptic quotes about loneliness and emotional darkness to Instagram, including lines from Carl Jung: “Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness…”
Sources told Us Weekly that while the breakup wasn’t contentious, it had been a long time coming. “There was tension for months,” one insider noted, adding that Katy felt a sense of relief not having to face another divorce, referring to her previous marriage to comedian Russell Brand, which ended in 2012.
Orlando Bloom to attend Jeff Bezos wedding alone as split rumours with Katy Perry grow Getty Images
Perry breaks down during final Australia show
In the days leading up to the yacht trip, Perry concluded her Australia leg of the Lifetimes tour. At her final show in Adelaide, she reportedly became emotional, holding her hands in the shape of a heart and thanking fans: “Thank you, Australia, for always being there for me.”
Her absence from the Bezos-Sánchez wedding was initially chalked up to a scheduling conflict, but it added to speculation about the status of her relationship with Bloom. The couple’s recent decision to rent out their Montecito home to Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger further fuelled separation rumours before the announcement was made official.
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Despite the personal changes, Perry seems to be navigating the transition surrounded by loved ones, doing it with strength, clarity, and a sense of calm.
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Mia Regan, Romeo Beckham, Cruz Beckham, Harper Beckham, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham attend the Netflix 'Beckham' UK Premiere
Brooklyn Beckham is unlikely to attend Harper’s 14th birthday amid ongoing family tensions.
He recently skipped David Beckham’s 50th celebration to attend Nicola Peltz’s father’s birthday in the US.
Insiders say Harper is especially hurt as she shares a close bond with Brooklyn.
Brooklyn reportedly feels distant from the Beckham family and more connected to Nicola’s side.
The Beckham family is preparing to mark Harper’s 14th birthday this week, but the occasion is expected to be bittersweet. Brooklyn Beckham is not expected to join the celebrations, sparking concerns about a deepening rift between him and the rest of his family.
Once a close-knit unit, tensions reportedly began brewing after Brooklyn married American heiress and actress Nicola Peltz in 2022. Since then, his growing bond with Nicola’s family and increasing distance from his own has been a source of strain, insiders claim.
An old Instagram story of Victoria BeckhamInstagram Screengrab
Harper Beckham affected by Brooklyn’s absence
Among those most affected by Brooklyn’s ongoing estrangement is his youngest sibling, Harper. According to a source close to the family, the two shared a special relationship growing up, with Harper often looking up to Brooklyn as more than just a big brother.
“Harper’s really felt the shift,” the insider said. “She’s always adored Brooklyn. The family hoped Nicola would naturally bond with Harper too, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Now, the thought of Brooklyn missing her birthday is genuinely upsetting for Harper.”
David Beckham, Victoria Beckham and Brooklyn Beckham attend the Louis Vuitton Menswear Fall/Winter 2018-2019 showGetty Images
Prioritising the Peltz family over Beckham milestones
Brooklyn’s decision to attend the 83rd birthday celebration of Nicola’s billionaire father, Nelson Peltz, instead of joining his father David’s 50th birthday bash in London raised eyebrows and stirred speculation. While Victoria and David celebrated with close friends like Tom Cruise, Eva Longoria, and Guy Ritchie, Brooklyn was thousands of miles away in New York, posing for photos with Nicola and her father.
Nicola posted a heartfelt tribute to her dad on Instagram, calling him “the most loving and supportive father,” in a post that made no mention of the Beckhams. That same month, Brooklyn also marked the fifth anniversary of his proposal to Nicola, again with no public nod to his own family.
Victoria and David still hopeful for reconciliation
While David and Victoria are reportedly hurt, they have not given up hope of a reunion. They are said to be especially saddened by the emotional toll the situation is taking on Harper. “For Victoria, it’s not even about the drama anymore, it’s about family,” the source added. “She’d love nothing more than for Brooklyn to be there for Harper. But it’s just not looking likely.”
Past efforts to bring the family back together have faltered. Brooklyn and Nicola have missed several key family gatherings, and his absence on social media during those occasions has not gone unnoticed.
Brooklyn feels he ‘doesn’t fit’ with the Beckhams anymore
Sources close to Brooklyn suggest his growing alignment with Nicola’s family is not just about proximity but emotional comfort. “He doesn’t feel his family ever truly accepted Nicola,” one insider said. “Now that he’s become so close with her parents, especially Nelson, it’s like he’s found a new place to belong.”
Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz attend the Mugler Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show Getty Images
The source added that Brooklyn did not set out to distance himself, but that marriage changed his priorities. “He still loves his siblings, but he’s a husband now, and that comes first.”