Not just Animal Park, is Sandeep Reddy Vanga planning a part 3 of Animal too?

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Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Ranbir Kapoor-starrer blockbuster Animal may be getting even bigger than originally planned. While Animal Park, the second instalment of the franchise, is still in the scripting stage, strong industry buzz suggests that Vanga could be contemplating expanding the narrative into a three-part saga.

Though there has been no official announcement yet, sources familiar with the development indicate that the filmmaker’s creative ambitions for the sequel may have outgrown the idea of a simple two-part structure. “Vanga’s original plan was to tell the story in two films,” a source close to the project told this writer. “But while writing the second part, he realised the narrative had far more depth and material than could be contained in just one more instalment. That’s when the possibility of a third part entered the picture.”

If this plan moves forward, Ranbir Kapoor is expected to remain the common thread across all three films. Interestingly, insiders suggest that the antagonist may not be constant through the trilogy, with different villains potentially driving the conflict in Animal Park and a possible third film, allowing each chapter to explore new dimensions of the story.

At the moment, all decisions remain contingent on the final scripting of Animal Park. However, if the speculation proves true, Animal could well evolve into one of the most expansive character-driven franchises in recent Hindi cinema, redefining how dark, adult-themed narratives are mounted on a blockbuster scale.

Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor on Animal Park says: “It will be bigger, bolder, and more engaging”

EXCLUSIVE: Adivi Sesh-Mrunal Thakur starrer Dacoit to release on April 10; makers of Pan-India action entertainer realign strategy amid multiple big releases

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The exciting teaser of Dacoit was launched with much fanfare in December in the presence of its lead actors, Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur and Anurag Kashyap. The Pan-India action entertainer was scheduled to release on March 19, 2026 and Bollywood Hungama has now exclusively learned that Dacoit has been pushed.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “With March witnessing multiple releases and announcements, the makers of Dacoit have thoughtfully realigned the film’s release plans, shifting the date to April 10. It was earlier set to arrive alongside Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups, making it a time when multiple highly anticipated films were slated to release together. The team holds great respect for both Dhurandhar as well as Toxic and their creative teams, and firmly believes that every theatrical release deserves its own moment with audiences.”

Trade sources believe that postponing the release date of Dacoit, previously described by the makers as a ‘gold fish’ among larger releases, reflects the maker’s confidence in the film’s content and its ability to strike a chord with the audiences. The source added, “Staying true to that thought, the decision to move to April 10 comes from a place of fairness and clarity, ensuring that Dacoit gets its due spotlight while audiences can enjoy all films on their own terms. It also reflects strategic planning and thoughtful timing, focused on the film’s theatrical experience.”

Dacoit is directed by Abhinay Deo, produced by Supriya Yarlagadda and backed by S S Creations and Suniel Narang Production. As for Dhurandhar: The Revenge, it is the sequel to the much-loved blockbuster, Dhurandhar (2025) and stars Ranveer Singh and others. Meanwhile, Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups, directed by Geetu Mohandas, is a multi-starrer, starring Yash of KGF fame, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, Akshay Oberoi and others.

Also Read: Adivi Sesh wraps final schedule of Dacoit ahead of its anticipated festive release in March: “This film has been an intense journey”

BREAKING: Mumbai Police files FIR against Dhurandhar The Revenge location manager for flying drone in high security Fort area of South Mumbai without permission

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A few days ago, leaked images from the sets of Dhurandhar The Revenge dropped online and quickly spread like wildfire. The images featured Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal shooting in South Mumbai’s Ballard Estate. The locality can also be seen being transformed into Karachi’s Lyari locality. However, two days ago, the shoot was abruptly halted by the Mumbai Police for flying a drone without permission.

As per a report in Mumbai Mirror, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against location manager Rinku Rajpal Valmiki under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for “knowingly disobeying lawful orders from officials”. The FIR mentioned that the crew used drones but did not have permission. What added to the seriousness, as per the report, was that Fort is considered a high-security area of the city.

The Mumbai Mirror article then revealed on February 1, Sanjay Dutt had arrived on the set and was shooting a crucial scene of Dhurandhar The Revenge. He was wearing a white pathani suit and had a gun in his hand. The drone was meant to capture his dramatic walk. However, all of a sudden, the cops arrived and the shoot was stopped.

As per the Mumbai Mirror report, Zonal DCP Pravin Mundhe confirmed that an FIR has indeed been filed and that Rinku Rajpal Valmiki was arrested. The police sources told the tabloid that, though the line producers secured permission from the Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited for the shoot, they did not secure permission to fly drones.

The article also carried a quote of a local resident, Sanjay Gurav, who revealed that the team of Dhurandhar The Revenge had blocked two parallel roads in Fort – Perin Nariman Street and Modi Street – for the shoot for three days, that is, January 30, January 31 and February 1.

Meanwhile, just some time back, the makers of Dhurandhar The Revenge dropped the much-awaited poster of the film, featuring Ranveer Singh in a gory and massy avatar. It reconfirmed that the sequel will indeed release on March 19 this year, as planned.

Also Read: Makers of Dhurandhar: The Revenge CONFIRM March 19, 2026 release; first poster featuring Ranveer Singh out!

Akshay Kumar to play villain in Ajay Devgn’s Golmaal 5: Report

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Bollywood’s long-running comedy series Golmaal is gearing up for its fifth instalment with a casting development that has drawn notable industry attention. According to an exclusive report by Variety India, actor Akshay Kumar has joined the ensemble of Golmaal 5, set to portray the main antagonist opposite Ajay Devgn’s character in the film.

The Golmaal franchise, directed by Rohit Shetty and first launched in 2006 with Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, has carved its reputation through high-energy humour and a strong ensemble cast. The new instalment is said to expand on that formula by incorporating fantasy elements and a more pronounced antagonist arc, while still preserving the playful tone that defines the series.

Akshay Kumar’s involvement marks a significant addition to the franchise. Known for his work across several successful comedy series, including Hera Pheri, Housefull, and Welcome, Akshay will reportedly take on a negative role that diverges from the usual comic conflicts in the Golmaal universe. This will also be his second consecutive turn as an antagonist, following his role in Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan, where he starred opposite Saif Ali Khan.

Ajay Devgn continues to anchor the Golmaal ensemble, leading a familiar group of actors. Regular cast members such as Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade and Kunal Kemmu are expected to return, along with veteran comedians Johnny Lever, Sanjay Mishra, Mukesh Tiwari and Ashwini Kalsekar. There is also speculation that Sharman Joshi may reprise his role, though Kareena Kapoor Khan’s participation has not yet been confirmed.

Production for Golmaal 5 is scheduled to begin by the end of February 2026 at Film City in Mumbai, with a target theatrical release in early 2027. The film arrives as the franchise celebrates two decades since its inception, and it will mark the sixth collaboration between Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, following projects such as Suhaag (1994), Khakee (2004), Insan (2005), Sooryavanshi (2021) and Singham Again (2024).

At the time of the report, the makers had not officially confirmed Akshay Kumar’s casting, leaving some details subject to formal announcements.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar calls Rani Mukerji “Goddeess of acting” as he reviews Mardaani 3: “I saw it. I loved it”

Ahan Shetty and Shaad Ali’s intense romantic drama shoot is set for early summer

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Riding the momentum from his widely successful Border 2, actor Ahan Shetty is set to reunite with cinematic storytelling in a new intense romantic drama directed by Shaad Ali, with principal photography expected to begin by March–April this year. The project marks a creative collaboration between one of Bollywood’s emerging performers and a filmmaker known for his work in memorable love stories.

Following Border 2’s robust box office performance, Ahan has expanded his slate with three new film commitments, one of which is this yet-untitled romance that blends action with emotional depth. “It’s an intense action love story, something I’m returning to after Tadap [2021]. I like such intense characters and the depth they carry,” Shetty told Mid-Day, underlining his interest in roles that challenge him artistically.

The film has been in development, with the creative team currently finalising both the script and music ahead of the planned shoot. Shetty — who is the son of veteran actor Suniel Shetty — described his experience working with director Shaad Ali as collaborative and reassuring. “Shaad sir knows exactly what he wants. I’m excited to work with him because we understand each other. I think he’ll get a great performance out of me. I believe in completely surrendering to my director,” he said.

While further details about the supporting cast and production schedule have yet to be confirmed, the film’s early planning reflects a deliberate approach, with flexibility in its shoot dates as creative elements come together.

Also Read: Suniel Shetty pens emotional note for “Sun” Ahan Shetty as Border 2 releases: “Watching you wear the uniform brings it full circle”

Dhadak 2 director Shazia Iqbal goes private after slamming Dhurandhar as “sinister” film promoting hate

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Filmmaker Shazia Iqbal, known for her directorial debut Dhadak 2, has publicly criticised the spy thriller Dhurandhar, calling it “sinister” and asserting that “inciting hate and violence is in its DNA.” Her remarks, shared via Instagram Stories, have sparked debate within Bollywood and among audiences following the film’s successful run and recent Netflix release.

Released in December 2025, Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar and featuring Ranveer Singh in the lead role, has become one of the highest-grossing Hindi films at the domestic box office. The action-oriented espionage narrative centres on an Indian spy embedded deep within a terror network, and includes a supporting cast of well-known actors such as Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt and Sara Arjun.

Shazia Iqbal’s comments did not explicitly name the film in her initial post, but she paired her message with Dhurandhar’s title track, making clear the target of her critique. In her Instagram Story, she described the film as intentionally provocative. “What a sinister film! It’s not hidden, it’s not unintentional — inciting hate and violence is in the DNA of the film,” she wrote, later adding that many in the industry appear unconcerned about the implications of such content on minority communities.

Iqbals’s post continued with a note of sarcasm directed at industry peers: “But it’s a ‘well made’ film guys… With some cool BgM (smile emoji). Well done industry dud bros. Glad that most of y’all don’t care about minorities enough to even hide your blatant apathy.”

Her critique extended beyond Dhurandhar. Iqbal also referenced the teaser for The Kerala Story 2, the sequel to the 2023 film that was itself embroiled in controversy. However, hours after sharing her thoughts, the director made her Instagram account private.

Also Read: Dhurandhar tops Netflix India chart within 24 hours of streaming release; Aditya Dhar REACTS!

Rohit Shetty firing case: Four accused arrested as police probe alleged kill plot involving wanted accused

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Four men arrested in connection with the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence were presented before an Esplanade court late Sunday, where they were remanded to police custody until February 5. Police allege the men conspired with a wanted suspect, Shubham Lonkar, to carry out the attack with the intention of killing the prominent director-producer.

The case stems from a complaint filed by a security guard who reported indiscriminate firing outside Shetty’s residence in the early hours of Sunday, an incident that triggered a swift police investigation. No injuries were reported in the firing, but authorities treated it as a serious attempted murder case and registered an FIR accordingly.

According to police sources, Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji (19), one of the arrested men, allegedly conspired with the wanted accused Shubham Lonkar to carry out the plot. Investigators say the group procured a Honda Dio scooter (MH 12 FN 2205) — allegedly with assistance arranged through accomplices, including Aditya Gyaneshwar Gayaki — to facilitate the execution of the firing near Shetty’s home.

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Pune Police have detained five people (Aman Anand, Aditya Gyaneshwar, Siddharth Deepak, Samarth, and Swapnil) in connection with the firing incident at Bollywood director Rohit Shetty's residence. Three of them have been arrested and brought to the… pic.twitter.com/s8Nb2MVpkW — ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2026

Authorities have alleged that Lonkar provided financial and logistical support for the crime. Police have described the involvement of the arrested suspects as key to supporting the main shooter, with Lonkar directing parts of the conspiracy from outside the Mumbai area. The motive behind the alleged conspiracy has not been publicly clarified by investigators, and Lonkar remains at large. According to multiple reports, law enforcement is also examining potential links between the incident and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang — a criminal network connected with several high-profile cases in recent years — though officials have cautioned against speculation until claims can be verified.

In a related development, a social media post attributed to individuals claiming association with the Bishnoi gang purported to take responsibility for the attack. The post described the firing as a “small trailer” and included a threat of further violence if demands were not met. Authorities are investigating the authenticity of the post and examining whether it is connected to the arrests or if it is a separate attempt at intimidation.

Also Read: Firing reported outside Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence; police investigate