SCOOP: Playback sensation Heer of Batwara 1947 and Peddi fame to make acting debut in Imtiaz Ali and Mahaveer Jain’s Side Heroes

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In July, Bollywood Hungama was the first to inform readers that Imtiaz Ali and Mahaveer Jain were planning to introduce fresh faces as the female lead in their upcoming friendship comedy, Side Heroes. We have now learned that the makers have zeroed in on playback sensation Heer for one of the female leads in the film.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Heer is not just a talented singer but also a promising performer. She gave an impressive audition, and the makers felt that she would be perfect for the part. Interestingly, her character in the film is also a singer. Hence, casting a real-life playback singer would lend authenticity to the character.”

The source further revealed, “The makers are in advanced discussions with Heer and are expected to make an official announcement about her casting soon.”

About Heer

Heer has lent her voice to several notable songs in recent times. In Aamir Khan's production Batwara 1947, she sang 'Tabassum' alongside Sonu Nigam and 'Chal Anjaane'. Both songs were composed by A R Rahman, who also composed the music for Ram Charan-starrer Peddi. In this Pan-India film, Heer lent her voice to the song 'Hellallallo'.

Her other recent songs include 'Roop Di Rani' from Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, alongside Guru Randhawa, and 'Chhaap Tilak' from Ginny Wedss Sunny 2. Both songs were composed by Tanishk Bagchi.

About Side Heroes

Side Heroes is a hilarious friendship-reunion film with a touch of nostalgia, set in the heartland of India. Besides Heer, ot stars Varun Sharma, Abhishek Banerjee and Aparshakti Khurana. It is produced by Imtiaz Ali, Mahaveer Jain, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and Shikha K Ahluwalia, written by Siddarth Sen (director of Good Luck Jerry) and Pankaj Matta, and directed by Ssanjay Tripaathy.

In September, Bollywood Hungama exclusively reported that Side Heroes would be among the rare Hindi films to be shot entirely in Bihar. The film is scheduled to release on Friendship Day 2027.

Also Read: Imtiaz Ali reveals how Subhash Ghai SAVED Socha Na Tha: “He bought the film at a price higher than its actual value”; admits Showman was once FURIOUS with him: “He signed me for a film, but I backed out”

EXCLUSIVE: Shah Rukh Khan's birthday to witness a KING-sized BLAST; Siddharth Anand gears up to launch EXPLOSIVE teaser on November 2

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The Siddharth Anand directed King is among the most awaited films of 2026 as it marks the return of Shah Rukh Khan to the big screen after 3 long years. The action-packed thriller is touted to be one of the most expensive films ever made, with a reported cost of production of Rs. 450 crores, and the insiders can't stop raving about the scale of this Siddharth Anand entertainer. With just 70 days left for its big theatrical release all across the globe, Bollywood Hungama has an earth-shattering update on King.

According to very reliable insiders, Siddharth Anand is all set to unleash an action-packed teaser of King on Shah Rukh Khan's birthday - 2nd November 2026. "It's a birthday gift from team King to all Shah Rukh Khan fans, and Siddharth Anand is going to deliver a new SRK experience. The teaser cut is apparently mind-blowing with Shah Rukh Khan like never before, delivering larger-than-life dialogues with style and suave," a source told Bollywood Hungama discreetly.

We hear that the teaser will mark the global launch of the marketing campaign for King, as the intent of the team is to deliver a project that's unlike anything seen before from India in the genre. "If audiences loved the scale of Pathaan and Jawan, Sid has taken things a notch higher with King. The action, thrill, and most importantly music will take the audiences on a ride this Christmas," tells the source.

King also features Kareena Kapoor in a special appearance, as she will be seen shaking the legs with SRK on a song titled Daddy Cool. The makers plan to shoot it in South Africa in October, and it is said to be one of the major highlights of the film. Produced by Red Chillies and Marflix, King is slated for release on December 24, 2026.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt reunite for a new and fun Rungta Steel ad, and the internet can’t get enough

Ramayana to release in nearly 40 languages worldwide; Namit Malhotra and team mount an unprecedented overseas release

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Less than a month is left for the release of Ramayana, and the excitement is steadily building. Yesterday, the makers finally announced that the much-awaited film will release in cinemas worldwide on November 5. They also revealed that advance bookings will commence on Dussehra, October 20. Meanwhile, the makers are working round the clock to ensure an unprecedented release in overseas markets.

A trade source told Bollywood Hungama, “Producer Namit Malhotra and the core team of Ramayana are determined to make it the biggest release ever for an Indian film. They have been working towards this goal for a long time. The film's promotion at CinemaCon 2026 and San Diego Comic-Con was a step in that direction. Getting Sony Pictures on board for international distribution was also a huge shot in the arm.”

The source continued, “To make the film accessible and appealing to audiences across the globe, Ramayana has been dubbed in nearly 40 languages. As a result, viewers across the world will be able to experience the film in all its glory in a language they understand, without having to rely on subtitles. This is the first time an Indian film has been dubbed on such a massive scale. The complete list of languages in which the film has been dubbed will be unveiled in a week or two.”

Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. It is directed by Nitesh Tiwari of Dangal (2016) fame and produced by Namit Malhotra. The music is composed by A R Rahman and Hans Zimmer.

The mythological epic is being made as a two-part saga, with the first instalment arriving in cinemas on November 5, 2026, that is, in the Diwali week. The second part is scheduled for release during Diwali 2027.

Also Read: Ramayana makers announce worldwide release of Part 1 on November 5, 2026 with new poster featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey and Yash

FIR register against Imran Khan and others over August Kranti Maidan protest: REPORT

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Mumbai Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against actor Imran Khan, his girlfriend Lekha Washington and several others following their detention during a protest at August Kranti Maidan on Saturday, October 10. The demonstration was organised in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest in Delhi, which called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The FIR was registered at Gamdevi police station under Sections 223, 126(2), 189(2), 189(3) and 189(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), according to reports. The provisions cited in the case relate to disobedience of orders issued by public servants, wrongful restraint and offences associated with unlawful assembly. The complaint was filed by police personnel following the gathering, which took place amid heightened security arrangements in the area.

According to reports, more than 400 people were detained during the protest, with some accounts putting the number at around 600 across Mumbai. Those detained included Imran, Lekha and Imran’s cousin, Zayn Marie Khan. They were released later that night.

Ahead of the demonstration, police personnel had barricaded roads surrounding August Kranti Maidan and deployed additional staff to prevent the gathering from proceeding. The detentions took place as authorities maintained security in the area.

Following his detention, Imran took to Instagram to share a selfie from inside a police van. The actor accompanied the picture with the caption, “Apparently I'm going for a drive.”

Lekha also shared updates on social media following the detention. She said she did not know where the police were taking them. After their release, she alleged that the police were not allowing them to return home or arrange a vehicle. She later reassured her followers that they were safe and on their way home.

The Mumbai protest was held in solidarity with the CJP’s demonstration in Delhi, where protesters were also detained during a major police operation. The movement has been demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over allegations concerning the revision of electoral rolls.

With the registration of the FIR, the legal proceedings against Imran, Lekha and the other individuals named in the case have become a fresh development following Saturday’s demonstration. Further details about the case and any subsequent police action remain awaited.

Also Read : Imran Khan to showcase his drift skills at Royal Enfield GRRR Nights × Underground in Mumbai on August 23

Kumar Taurani reveals Shobha Kapoor made an EXTRA Rs. 25 crores due to ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ in Crew; makes a BOLD statement: “EVERY film should have recreated songs”

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Ramesh Taurani and Kumar Taurani spoke to Komal Nahta about remixes and recreated versions of old songs. While many believe that recreations are a worrying trend and that music composers should focus only on original compositions, Kumar Taurani had a different take.

He said, “More recreations should be made. Every film should have recreated songs. Certain classic songs have a long legacy, have been promoted extensively and enjoy strong recall value. When these songs are presented in a new avatar, they tend to work big time. This happened with the recreated versions of ‘Chunari Chunari’ (Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai; 2026) and ‘Chamma Chamma’ (Fraud Saiyaan; 2019). Recently, ‘Aankhon Se Tune 2.0’ (Bhai Tera Star Hai; 2026) also worked. Usually, songs would get around 20,000 streams. But after being recreated, their streams suddenly jumped into the millions! This benefits the original versions as well.”

Ramesh Taurani added, “There was a film called Crew (2024). Two of its songs became famous, ‘Naina’ and ‘Choli Ke Peeche’. The signature ‘Ku Ku Ku Ku’ hook of ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ was also used extensively in the film's background score.”

Kumar Taurani revealed, “Shobha Kapoor ji herself told me, ‘Kumar ji, because of ‘Choli Ke Peeche’, I made Rs. 25 crores more in my pocket’. Imagine!”

Ramesh Taurani continued, “Dhurandhar is another huge example. It’s a Rs. 1000 crores grosser, and look at how many old songs were recreated, including ‘Tamma Tamma’, ‘Hum Pyaar Karne Waale’, ‘Na Toh Karvaan Ki Talaash Hai’, etc. They were so well woven into the narrative that they enhanced the impact of the scenes.”

Kumar agreed, “That’s because you are already familiar with most of these songs, and hence, you enjoy them even more.”

Also Read: Ramesh Taurani hails Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, takes a DIG at actors scared of flops: “Bhale 10 hit chhoot jaaye lekin 1 flop nahin chahiye!”; reveals, “I always tell Aamir Khan, ‘Aap zyaada picturein karo’”

Ramesh Taurani hails Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, takes a DIG at actors scared of flops: “Bhale 10 hit chhoot jaaye lekin 1 flop nahin chahiye!”; reveals, “I always tell Aamir Khan, ‘Aap zyaada picturein karo’”

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Ramesh Taurani and Kumar Taurani spoke to Komal Nahta and urged actors to sign more films. Ramesh Taurani said, “In the olden days, we used to promote our films extensively, put up hoardings, publish posters in film magazines, play the songs on TV and radio, etc. Hence, actors used to get excited when signing a film produced by a music company. We used to just share one-line idea of the story and at times, actors agreed to do the film over a phone call and without even physically meeting us. Woh bharosa tha aur luckily, woh bharosa rang laaya kyunki hamari sab picturein chali.”

Kumar Taurani then said, “Now, actors are very panicky, fearing that their film might flop. Actors should continue working, even if they deliver a couple of flops. They should not fear and should do at least 2-3 movies a year. At the same time, they should also be economical with the producers. From what I know, the actors and director of Dhurandhar opted for profit sharing; their upfront fees were not much.”

Ramesh Taurani added, “In the 90s and 2000s, there were not many revenue options. Now, actors can earn through stage shows, ads, endorsements, etc. So, they have a lot of money. Our judiciary follows this principle that bhale 100 gunehgaar chhoot jaaye, lekin ek begunaah ko faansi nahin honi chahiye. Similarly, actors think that bhale 10 hit chhoot jaaye, koi parwah nahin. Lekin 1 flop nahin chahiye! They don’t want their brand value to diminish.”

He continued, “In the long term, flops don’t matter. Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn deliver 4 films a year and are going strong for so many years. Drishyam The Conclusion is tracking so well. Salman Khan continues to work and has 3 films in 2 years for sure. I always tell Aamir Khan, ‘Bhai aap zyaada picturein karo’. Shah Rukh Khan’s King will release 3 years after his last release. Aise actors ka zyada kaam aana chahiye.”

Also Read: Kumar Taurani BREAKS silence on Vashu Bhagnani legal battle; reveals fallout after decades-old friendship: “Abhi thodi doori hai”; questions, “He filed case in a court located 200-300 kms from Patna. Wahaan jaane ki kya zaroorat hai aapko?”

Kumar Taurani BREAKS silence on Vashu Bhagnani legal battle; reveals fallout after decades-old friendship: "Abhi thodi doori hai"; questions, "He filed case in a court located 200-300 kms from Patna. Wahaan jaane ki kya zaroorat hai aapko?"

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In May 2026, producer Vashu Bhagnani filed a case in Katihar, Bihar, over the alleged unauthorized use of songs from his films. The issue erupted with the recreated versions of ‘Chunari Chunari’ and ‘Ishq Sona Hai’. Vashu Bhagnani argued that these tracks are from his film Biwi No 1 (1999) and that the makers of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai (2026) didn’t have the right to use them. Meanwhile, Tips, which produced the Varun Dhawan-starrer, made it clear that they have all the rights to use the songs. Ramesh Taurani and Kumar Taurani didn’t talk much on this issue. But now they finally broke their silence during their interview with Komal Nahta.

The brothers were asked about the feud between producers and music companies over remixes and recreations. Kumar Taurani reasoned that the producers’ argument that they should get some royalty from recreated versions doesn’t hold water. He said, “Aapne paise leke mujhe maal de diya. Toh ab kiska maal hua? Suppose I buy an M F Husain painting for Rs. 1 crore. Tomorrow, I have the freedom to sell it off for Rs. 2 crores or even give it for hire. That is, someone can display the painting at their venue and I can charge Rs. 25 lakhs a month for the same. I paid the full amount to buy the rights and signed the contract. Then, why the objection?”

When asked about Vashu Bhagnani, he replied, “He gave a lot of interviews while we maintained silence. Firstly, these contracts were signed 20-25 years ago. All these years, he never raised any objections. Secondly, all our contracts clearly state that in the event of any legal dispute, Mumbai will be the jurisdiction. Yet, he filed the case in faraway Bihar, that too in a court located 200-300 kms from Patna. Wahaan jaane ki kya zaroorat hai aapko? Thankfully, by God’s grace, we got relief from the High Court and Supreme Court. Now, everybody has told him to go and fight the case in Mumbai if he has any grievance.”

He added, “We shared such a long-standing relationship with Vashu. We were the ones who brought him into the industry, and we made our first films together. Later, when he expressed his desire to produce films independently, we were more than happy to support him. We told him, ‘Akele banao, aage badho’.”

Are Ramesh Taurani and Kumar Taurani still on talking terms with Vashu Bhagnani after this episode? Kumar replied, “No. Abhi thodi doori hai. What to do? If he had a grievance, he could have come and spoken to us.”

Kumar also revealed that Vashu Bhagnani had acknowledged Tips as the rights holder of certain songs just a few years ago, only to change his stance during the Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai row. He explained, “He made a film called Coolie No 1 (2020), which was released directly on Amazon Prime Video. It featured two songs from the original film of the same name. We were among the producers of the original film and also held its music rights. He told us that he wanted to use those two songs and asked us to work out a deal. We agreed.”

Also Read: Kumar Taurani reveals Tips LOST money on Ek Rishtaa after Suneel Darshan preponed release: “The music was just picking up”