Category: Entertainment

Rashmika Mandanna is really happy because her new movie, Pushpa 2: The Rule, has become a big hit. Right now, she’s working on a film called Sikandar, where she is starring alongside the famous actor Salman Khan for the very first time.

In a chat with India Today, Rashmika shared her excitement about working with Salman. She said, “It’s like a dream come true! He is such a nice person and very humble.” Rashmika also mentioned that she felt sick while they were filming. When Salman found out, he quickly checked on her and asked the crew to bring her healthy food and warm water to help her feel better.

Rashmika is looking forward to Sikandar and believes it will be a special movie for her. She can’t wait for her fans to see it!

Earlier this year, Salman also shared an update about Sikandar. He showed off a new look with a moustache and beard and mentioned that he’s excited for the movie to release on Eid 2025. Sikandar is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.

Rashmika’s performance in Pushpa 2 impressed many, and the film made over ₹1000 crore globally in just its first week! She also recently released a teaser for her upcoming movie, The Girlfriend, and she will star in Vicky Kaushal’s Chhava, set to hit theaters on February 14, 2025.

Pushpa 2: The Rise,” directed by Sukumar, is smashing box office records everywhere. It just hit ₹1000 crore in earnings worldwide, making it the fastest Indian film to do so! This success has boosted the fame of its star, Allu Arjun, along with making him a lot of money. Reports say he might earn around ₹300 crore from this film, including his salary and a share of the profits. However, surprisingly, he is not the highest-paid actor in India!

Shah Rukh Khan Takes the Lead

So, who is at the top? It’s none other than the superstar Shah Rukh Khan! He has had an amazing year with his films. According to The Hollywood Reporter India, Shah Rukh earned over ₹350 crore from “Pathaan” because he took 55% of the profits. He might have made even more from another big hit, “Jawan,” since he was the producer and got paid as such. Interestingly, he has no films releasing in 2024, giving him a break after such a busy year.

Other Big Earners in Indian Cinema

The report also talked about how other famous actors earn money. Salman Khan makes around ₹200 crore by sharing in the satellite and digital rights of his films. Aamir Khan earns about 60% of the profits from his movies. Hrithik Roshan is another big star, making over ₹100 crore per film. Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, and Ranbir Kapoor earn between ₹70-80 crore. In South Indian cinema, superstars like Rajinikanth, Vijay, Prabhas, and Ram Charan also make more than ₹100 crore per film, with Rajinikanth and Vijay earning around ₹200 crore recently!

Taron Egerton stars in a new Netflix action movie called “Carry-On,” which pays tribute to the hardworking TSA employees, especially during the busy holiday season. “I hope they feel proud when they watch it,” Egerton said. In the film, he plays Ethan Kopek, a TSA agent struggling to find his path with help from his girlfriend, Nora, played by Sofia Carson.

Jaume Collet-Serra directs the movie, which also features Danielle Deadwyler as FBI agent Elena Cole. The story revolves around Kopek, who is forced by a tricky stranger, portrayed by Jason Bateman, to sneak a dangerous package through airport security just before Christmas.

Deadwyler mentions that this film connects with everyone who has traveled during the holidays. “The airport is always chaotic at Christmas time,” she shared. “It’s a fun way to bring back memories of classic Christmas action movies,” she added, drawing a comparison to “Die Hard.”

To ensure authenticity, Egerton and Carson spent time learning from real TSA agents. Carson explained, “I followed a director at the New Orleans airport for days. It’s tough to manage things at an airport.” Deadwyler highlighted that the film goes beyond action, showcasing the humanity and kindness of airport workers. “Those working at the airport deserve love and support because they help us through our travel anxieties, not just during the holidays,” she said.

“Carry-On,” a collaboration between Netflix and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, will be available to stream on Friday.

Bigg Boss, hosted by Salman Khan, has been a popular reality show for many years. However, since Season 13, it seems to have lost some of its charm. The ratings have been falling, and audiences are not as interested. Season 18 started strong with a rating of 2.3 on its first episode, but it has quickly dropped to 1.3. This is much less than previous seasons, like Season 13, which had ratings between 2.1 and 2.5. Other seasons have struggled too, with Season 14 averaging 1.8 and Season 15 hitting a low of 0.9.

Why is Season 18 not doing well? Here are some reasons:

1. Too Much Interference from Bigg Boss
Bigg Boss has been too involved this time. He openly said he would favor certain contestants, which the audience didn’t like. This makes it less fun to watch since it feels less like a competition and more like a scripted show.

2. Fewer Familiar Faces
Many famous contestants have turned down offers to join the show. Unlike Season 13, which had stars like Sidharth Shukla and Rashami Desai, this season has fewer recognizable faces. This makes it harder for viewers to connect with the contestants.

3. Boring Tasks
The tasks this season have not been exciting. In Season 13, tasks were fun and kept everyone engaged. Now, some tasks seem pointless, like a boring musical chair game for food. Viewers want challenges that keep the show interesting.

4. Dull Weekend Episodes
The Weekend Ka Vaar episodes have lost their spark too. They feel biased, focusing too much on some contestants while ignoring others, which doesn’t keep the audience entertained.

5. Forced Drama
This season feels like it is trying too hard to create drama over small issues like food. The connections between contestants seem fake, and viewers can tell it’s not authentic.

6. Irrelevant Wildcard Entries
New wildcard contestants have been introduced, but they don’t add much to the show. They often seem lost and fail to impress the audience.

Overall, Bigg Boss 18 lacks the excitement and personality of earlier seasons. Viewers are missing the fun and competitive spirit that made Season 13 such a hit!

The conversation about having a female James Bond is getting a lot of attention, and Gemma Arterton, who played MI6 agent Strawberry Fields in “Quantum of Solace,” has shared her thoughts on this idea.

Gemma is not too excited about changing such a famous character, originally created by Ian Fleming in 1935. She said, “Isn’t a female James Bond like Mary Poppins being played by a man?” She believes that people might find it too strange to have a woman take on the role. She also added, “Sometimes, you just have to respect the tradition.”

Even though Gemma enjoyed being part of the Bond series, she is surprised that her small role continues to get attention. “I don’t regret doing a Bond film, but I’m confused why it has followed me around. I was only in the film for five minutes,” she said.

Her comments come as people wonder about who will be the next James Bond. Producer Barbara Broccoli mentioned that the new 007 will likely be a man in his 30s, but he does not necessarily have to be white. Broccoli noted, “Each time we pick a new actor, the films become different.” She also pointed out the excitement that comes with choosing a new Bond, saying, “Every actor brings something new and different to the role.”

Current Bond actor Daniel Craig has made it clear that he doesn’t mind who takes over next. He said last month, “I don’t care” about who will be the next James Bond. Craig has played Bond in five films: “Casino Royale,” “Quantum of Solace,” “Skyfall,” “Spectre,” and “No Time to Die.”

Rajinikanth celebrated his 74th birthday on December 12, and many celebrities sent him warm wishes. Dhanush, who used to be Rajinikanth’s son-in-law, shared a heartfelt message on X (formerly known as Twitter). He called Rajinikanth a “superstar” and “thalaiva” (which means leader in Tamil), and wrote, “Happy birthday to the one and only SUPERSTAR… my thalaiva @rajinikanth sir,” with red heart emojis.

Dhanush has always admired Rajinikanth, even before marrying his daughter Aishwarya in 2004. Although they split in 2024, his admiration remains. Fans loved Dhanush’s message, with some commenting on how he’s a true fan.

Many other stars also wished Rajinikanth a happy birthday. Kamal Haasan wrote, “Happy birthday, my dear friend, Superstar @rajinikanth. May you have lots of success, good health, and happiness!” Mammootty shared an old picture with Rajinikanth and said, “Happy Birthday, dear @rajinikanth! Keep inspiring millions!”

Mohanlal called him an inspiration and wished him health and joy. Vijay sent his birthday wishes, saying, “I wish you a very happy birthday, Rajinikanth.” Jackie Shroff and Venkatesh also posted birthday messages and old pictures together with him.

Rajinikanth’s last movie, Vettaiyan, featured him as a cop whose life changes due to an unexpected event. He is currently working on a new film called Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, along with Nagarjuna, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and others.

As 2024 comes to a close, Google has shared the most searched events, topics, and people in Pakistan. In a surprising twist, Indian movies and shows dominated the list! Among the top five most searched films and dramas, eight are from India, while only two are from Pakistan.

The most searched show in Pakistan is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Heeramandi.” It’s not just popular in Pakistan but also topped the charts in India. Following closely is the film “12th Fail,” which took the second spot. The third spot belongs to “Animal,” featuring Ranbir Kapoor, while “Mirzapur Season 3” holds the fourth position.

The fifth most searched film is “Stree 2,” a horror-comedy that gained popularity in both India and Pakistan. The Pakistani drama “Ishq Murshid,” starring Bilal Abbas Khan and Durefishan Saleem, made it to the sixth place.

Other Indian films and shows like “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” and “Dunki” took the seventh and eighth spots. The reality show “Bigg Boss 17,” starring Salman Khan, secured the ninth place. Lastly, the Pakistani drama “Kabhi Hum Kabhi Tum,” featuring Fahadh Mustafa and Hania Aamir, landed at number ten; it became a hit in both Pakistan and India.

Among personalities, the only Indian searched by Pakistanis was Mukesh Ambani. His son Anant’s extravagant wedding was a huge event, attracting many celebrity guests like Rihanna and Shah Rukh Khan.

Allu Arjun’s new movie, Pushpa 2: The Rule, is making waves at the box office and smashing records! In just six days after its release, the movie made over ₹1000 crore worldwide, setting a new record for the fastest film to reach this milestone.

Before Pushpa 2, other famous films also hit the ₹1000 crore mark, but they took longer. Let’s see how they compare:

– Baahubali 2: This film was the first Indian movie to hit ₹1000 crore in just 10 days! Directed by SS Rajamouli and featuring Prabhas, it was released in 2017.

– Kalki 2898 AD: This year’s big movie, also with Prabhas, crossed ₹1000 crore in 15 days. Directed by Nag Ashwin, it features stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone and was released on June 27.

– KGF Chapter 2: Yash’s KGF Chapter 2 reached ₹1000 crore in 16 days. It tells the story of Rocky, an orphan who becomes a powerful gold mine king.

– RRR: Another film by SS Rajamouli, RRR, also crossed ₹1000 crore in 16 days. It’s about two freedom fighters and stars Ram Charan and Jr NTR.

– Jawan: Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster took 18 days to reach ₹1000 crore. Directed by Atlee, the story follows a man trying to fix the wrongs in society.

– Pathaan: Another Shah Rukh Khan hit, Pathaan made it to ₹1000 crore in 27 days after its release on January 25.

– Dangal: Finally, Aamir Khan’s Dangal became a huge success after being released in China. It took 154 days to earn ₹1000 crore worldwide.

With these amazing achievements, Pushpa 2 is setting new standards for box office success!

In London, an Indian film called “The Kumbaya Story” won a trophy at the 13th tve Global Sustainability Film Awards at the famous BAFTA theater. Produced by Kumbaya Producer Co. Ltd, this film took home the award for the best short film that changes society. “The Kumbaya Story” tells the amazing story of strong women who changed their lives by learning to weave, which helped them start their own company, the Kumbaya Producer Company.

Another Indian film, “GOBUK- Harmony in the Highlands,” made it to the shortlist for young filmmakers. This film, created by Greenhub India, focuses on sustainable tourism.

India’s official entry for the Oscars 2025, “Laapataa Ladies,” was also shortlisted for the Founder’s Award. This award in the Feature category went to the Kenyan film “NAWI,” which talks about the serious issue of child brides. “NAWI” has already won awards, including the Best Young Actor at the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards, and is also Kenya’s official entry for the Oscars.

In the Docu-Feature category, the Founder’s Award went to a Canadian documentary called “500 Days in the Wild.” This film tells the story of a woman who explored Canada by hiking, biking, and paddling. “500 Days in the Wild” is Canada’s entry for the Oscars too.

Surina Narula, who started the tve Global Sustainability Film Awards, presented the Founder’s Award to the winners. Narula, a champion for women’s and children’s rights, praised “NAWI,” saying, “I’ve been working in this area for thirty years, and I’ve never seen a movie that explains the problem of child brides so powerfully.”

The tve Global Sustainability Film Awards highlight amazing films from different fields that inspire people with real solutions for a better future. Now in its 13th year, the awards support stories that help build a fairer and more sustainable world.