EXCLUSIVE: Vikrant Massey completes dubbing for White; Mahaveer Jain calls the film "a precious gift from India to the world"

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Actor Vikrant Massey is on a roll at present. After wowing audiences with two diverse performances in Pritam And Pedro and Musafir Cafe, the actor has now set his eyes on his most ambitious project to date – White. Bollywood Hungama has learned that the actor recently completed dubbing for the film. We also stumbled upon an exclusive image of the actor in the dubbing studio.

On this joyous occasion, which coincides with Guru Purnima, producer Mahaveer Jain told Bollywood Hungama, “At a time when the world is seeking solutions to wars and conflicts, White comes at the right moment. Through its powerful narrative, it shows the way forward and is a precious gift from India to the world.”

He added, “Vikrant has outdone himself in the film. I am sure that his powerful portrayal of global spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, coupled with the film’s profound impact, will mesmerize audiences worldwide.”

White is a thriller with human drama set against a political background. It is inspired by the world’s longest and deadliest conflict – the internal war of Colombia – that was resolved by an Indian spiritual master by spiritual wisdom.

White features an international cast and crew. Juan Carlos Gil of Narcos fame serves as the cinematographer, while the cast includes Mexican actor Darío Yazbek Bernal and Panamanian actor Jaime Newball, among others. The film is directed by ace ad filmmaker Montoo Bassi and backed by leading filmmaker Siddharth Anand, PeaceCraft Pictures and Mahaveer Jain.

White is set for a global release in multiple international and Indian languages in the last quarter of the year.

Also Read: SCOOP: Vikrant Massey joins Ajay Devgn’s Chauhaan; to play a layered grey character

World Nature Conservation Day 2026: Tarun Mansukhani, Sadia Khateeb, Harshita Gaur and Lauren Gottlieb reflect on protecting nature through culture, community and conscious choices

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World Nature Conservation Day 2026 serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the planet's natural resources and biodiversity for future generations. Marked every year on July 28, the day encourages individuals and communities to adopt sustainable practices while recognising that environmental conservation is a shared responsibility. Joining the conversation this year, filmmaker Tarun Mansukhani, actors Sadia Khateeb and Harshita Gaur, and actress-dancer Lauren Gottlieb shared their personal perspectives on why protecting nature matters and how conservation can become a part of everyday life.

Filmmaker Tarun Mansukhani highlighted the inseparable bond between nature and storytelling, saying, “As someone who's spent years working in cinema, I've come to realise that nature isn't just scenery we place a story in front of, it actually shapes the stories we end up telling and the memories we carry as an audience. Some of our most iconic landscapes have become inseparable from the films and folklore built around them. Take away the location, and often the story loses a part of its soul. Our festivals, our traditions, our folklore, all of it is deeply rooted in the natural world in ways we don't always stop to acknowledge. So when we talk about protecting nature, we're not just talking about the environment; we're talking about preserving cultural identity for the generations who come after us. That's what makes conservation feel personal to me, not abstract.”

Sadia Khateeb reflected on the importance of learning from traditional practices while embracing modern solutions. She shared, “Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do for conservation isn't inventing something new, it's preserving the wisdom we've already inherited. Traditional practices, the ones our grandparents followed without even calling them 'sustainable,' were built on a relationship with nature that was far more balanced than what we practise today. They didn't have the language of conservation, but they lived it in how they cooked, how they farmed, how they stored water and food for the seasons ahead. That restraint came from actually understanding scarcity, not from lack of access, but from respect for it. I don't believe progress and tradition need to compete with each other. We can move forward with new technology and still carry that older wisdom with us, using it as a foundation rather than something we've outgrown. For me, conservation starts with looking backward before we look forward.”

Harshita Gaur stressed that conservation begins in our immediate surroundings and that even small actions can make a meaningful difference. She said, “We tend to think conservation is something that happens far away, in national parks or wildlife sanctuaries, somewhere removed from our everyday lives. But honestly, it begins right where we live. It's the birds that visit our balconies, the butterflies in a nearby park, the trees and plants that somehow still manage to survive in the middle of our cities. We just don't notice them enough to protect them. Even our cities can support biodiversity if we make a little room for it, instead of paving over every inch of green space. Something as simple as planting a native species instead of an ornamental one, or protecting a small patch of green in your locality, has a ripple effect that goes further than we realise. I think that's the part people forget, that conservation is often small and local before it's ever big and global.”

Lauren Gottlieb, meanwhile, spoke about responsible travel and the importance of respecting the places we visit. She said, “I love how much travel teaches you, if you let it go beyond just seeing a place. For me, the best way to experience somewhere new is by respecting it, not consuming it. I try to actually learn about the culture, the food, the people, and the environment of wherever I go, instead of just passing through it. It deepens the whole experience in a way that a checklist never could. I always try to leave a destination the way I found it, or better, whether that's how I engage with the local community, how I treat the land, or the small choices I make along the way. Local ecosystems aren't just photo backdrops for me; they're living, breathing systems I feel lucky to be a temporary guest in. There's something so grounding about that mindset; it makes every trip feel more meaningful.”

Also Read: Lauren Gottlieb had auditioned for Michael Jackson’s final tour: “I got to perform in front of him”

20 years of Omkara EXCLUSIVE: “Saif Ali Khan jumped at the opportunity to utter cuss words. He said, ‘I am never going to get a chance to do this again’,” shares Abhishek Chaubey; also reveals ONLY Vishal Bhardwaj was sure about Saif’s casting

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Vishal Bhardwaj is known for his Shakespeare trilogy in the form of Maqbool (2004), Omkara (2006) and Haider (2014), adapted from Macbeth, Othello and Hamlet. Out of these, Omkara completes 20 years today. The film starred Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Vivek Oberoi who reprised the characters of Othello, Iago, Desdemona and Michael Cassio respectively from the original Shakespearean play. It is still remembered for its bold storytelling and trying something hugely different at that time with mainstream Hindi film stars.

Omkara is also special for filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey as he was an associate director and co-writer on the project. In an exclusive and candid interview with Bollywood Hungama, he looked back at the enjoyable process of making Omkara.

Personal milestone

Chaubey calls Omkara a “milestone” for his career. “This was just the second film which I had written,” he said. “This was also the biggest film I had done in my life. It just fell into my lap because we were not expecting Vishal to make a thriller at that point of time. He was making something else. This happened all of a sudden. I had a fantastic time being a part of this film. It was Kumar ji’s (Kumar Mangat Pathak) first production and he didn’t leave any stone unturned. So, we were never in want of anything. There was very little stress on set. We enjoyed making the film.”

Script written in a jiffy

Chaubey had said in an interview that they had written the script of Omkara in 18 days. He elaborated on how it happened. “In 18 days we did the adaptation formally,” he said. “But when we were working on the post-production of Maqbool, Vishal and I were just generally talking that if he were to do another Shakespeare, what would it be. And he wanted to do Othello. There were no plans of making anything but just for fun we used to talk about adapting Othello. So, there were certain ideas about the film we had through our discussion about Othello early on; a year or two before we made the film,” he said.

Hence, when the opportunity came to adapt Othello, they were better prepared because they had a good vision about the film. “There was some amount of clarity with which we started,” said Chaubey. “It was not completely blind start in that sense. We had to write the film in a short period of time because Kumar Mangat had come as producer and got Ajay Devgn on board. Ajay was very keen to do a Shakespeare with Vishal but the condition was that his dates were open in January and we were already in September. So, we had to write the film in double quick time, otherwise we would lose out on his dates. Although there was pressure, it was a good pressure.”

Meeting real gangsters and politicians

Sharing the interesting research process, Chaubey revealed, “Robin (Bhatt) da joined us. Then Vishal, me and Robin da went on a general trip of western UP, particularly Meerut. We spent about a week there and met various kinds of people – gangsters, people behind bars, etc. Just a political and crime landscape of Meerut. Plus, Vishal is from Meerut, so he knew a lot of people we could meet and talk to. That energized us and also gave us a feel of the film, like how the characters are, how they talk, behave, etc. Directly from Meerut we went to Mussoorie to write the film.”

Due to their research and familiarity with Othello, which Chaubey had even studied in college, they were well-prepared when they sat down to write. “We would have discussions about the adaptation during the day – the story, characters and all of that. During lunch time, I would polish the notes Vishal ji and Robin da had discussed. Then post-lunch during tea time we would revise it and Vishal would that evening only try and do the dialogues of those scenes. It was almost like we were working double time. We wrote it very rapidly. It was a very long time ago. I was very young, so I had a lot of energy. I remember enjoying the process tremendously,” recalled Chaubey.

Only Vishal Bhardwaj was convinced about Saif Ali Khan’s casting as Langda Tyagi

Recalling the casting of Saif, Chaubey said, “I was of the view that for the role of Langda Tyagi we would be going for a different, more serious kind of an actor or an arthouse actor because we were coming from Maqbool and all of that. But Vishal said that he is going for Saif. And I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ Saif hadn’t done anything like this before, right? He played romantic characters in urban films. The only film where he had negative shades was Ek Hasina Thi. He was very good in it but he was playing a very urbane character. This was a very different and rugged sort of a character.”

Chaubey added, “I wasn’t sure if it would work but Vishal was supremely confident that he would make him do it. I have to give credit to him because not just me but everybody around him was not very sure about his choice. But Vishal being a director could see something which we, obviously, couldn’t. And when Saif got to know that he is getting to play Iago, he quickly jumped at it. I think his mother Sharmila ji had something to do with it. She, sort of, encouraged him to play this part because, knowing Shakespeare, she told him that Iago is the most memorable character of this play. But his dates were not clear. I think he was doing Race. But then Race got pushed and he came on board.”

Chaubey recalled that Kareena came on board fairly quickly because Desdemona was a great character for her. She also wanted to be in a Vishal Bhardwaj film specially with Ajay Devgn leading it. He said that the rest of the casting also happened very quickly.

Saif didn’t hesitate to use cuss words

Omkara was one of the earliest mainstream films to have a lot of cuss words, especially uttered by Langda Tyagi’s character. When asked whether Saif had any hesitation in uttering cuss words, Chaubey said, “Saif jumped at the opportunity (laughs). He said, ‘I am never going to get a chance to do something like this again’. There were some apprehensions how it will be acceptable to the Indian audience or how the censor board will pass it. But our intention behind it was very clear. Shakespeare has great poetry. So, there has to be something in the dialogue that gives it a rhythm and feel that sets it apart from what you normally see in a Hindi film. The way Vishal ji used the dialogue and even the abusive language worked – and I mean this seriously – in a very poetic way. It was not like how cuss words are used now without a thought carelessly.”

“20 years ago, the CBFC was more enlightened”

The reaction of how the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to the cuss words was an obvious question to Chaubey. “CBFC of that era was very different from CBFC of present,” he said. “My first film (Ishqiya) came in 2010. It had a bold theme and colourful language. But at that time, people would give you Adult certificate and as long as anything was not demeaning to a gender or a community, they would let it be. In Omkara, there were some dialogue cuts but very minimal, which the committee felt were abusive towards a gender or anything of that sort. But otherwise, they let it pass. I think we had a very enlightened Censor Board 20 years ago. I think we have gone 20 years behind today.”

The craze behind “Langda Tyagi Baahubali”

Post the film’s release, the dialogue uttered by Deepak Dobriyal’s character, “Langda Tyagi Baahubali, Baahubali Langda Tyagi” became a rage and it continues to be popular. “When I saw it on set while shooting, I knew this is going to be a hit,” said Chaubey. “We had written it and we wanted it to be iconic. But when Deepak and Saif played that scene and then Deepak started jumping and saying this dialogue, we knew instantly that this is going to catch.”

Chaubey was speaking from Jharkhand where he was for a recce to scout locations for his upcoming web series.

Also Read: Saif Ali Khan makes an attention grabbing appearance at Lord’s Stadium; heritage-inspired Winchester College tie becomes the highlight of his look

Rishab Shetty teams up with Spider-Man: Brand New Day in special collaboration; says, “My love for Spider-Man has only grown stronger”

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National Award-winning actor and filmmaker Rishab Shetty has joined hands with Marvel's beloved superhero in a special collaboration ahead of the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The unique association brings together one of Indian cinema's most celebrated storytellers with one of the world's most iconic superheroes, celebrating the enduring legacy of Spider-Man across generations.

In a special promotional video, the Kantara actor-director is seen unexpectedly crossing paths with Spider-Man before sharing his long-standing admiration for the friendly neighbourhood superhero. Reflecting on his first experience of watching Spider-Man on the big screen, Rishab recalled how deeply he connected with Peter Parker's journey.

“I still remember watching Spider-Man for the first time in a single-screen theatre many years ago and instantly connecting with Peter Parker. He has always reminded me that it’s okay to stumble, make mistakes, and even experience heartbreak, as long as we never lose the goodness within us,” he said.

 

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The actor also spoke about the values that Spider-Man continues to represent and why the character remains relevant even today. Sharing how the superhero has become a favourite within his own family, Rishab added, “Spider-Man also teaches us that with great power comes great responsibility, and that lesson stays relevant no matter how old you are. Over the years, my love for Spider-Man has only grown stronger, and today, he’s just as special to my children. In fact, they’ve already made me book tickets for Spider-Man: Brand New Day so we can all experience it together on the big screen.”

The collaboration comes ahead of the theatrical release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is set to arrive in Indian cinemas on July 30 in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, the latest chapter in the Spider-Man franchise sees Tom Holland reprise his role as Peter Parker. The film also stars Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffalo in pivotal roles. The story follows Peter Parker as he continues to protect New York City while confronting a powerful new threat and navigating an unexpected evolution of his superpowers.

Meanwhile, Rishab Shetty has an exciting slate of projects lined up. The actor-filmmaker is expected to headline films such as Jai Hanuman and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, while also taking forward the highly successful Kantara franchise.

With this special collaboration, Rishab Shetty and Spider-Man have come together to celebrate a character whose themes of courage, responsibility and resilience continue to inspire audiences across the world.

Also Read: Rishab Shetty receives South Indian Icon Award at Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards

Pankaj Tripathi starrer Ohh My Dog release postponed to August 7 due to Spider-Man: Brand New Day screen shortage

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Pankaj Tripathi's upcoming family drama Ohh My Dog has reportedly suffered a last-minute release setback. The Amit Rai directorial, which was initially slated to arrive in theatres on July 31, has now been postponed by a week, with reports suggesting that the decision was taken to avoid a direct box office clash with Marvel Studios' highly anticipated Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The film will now arrive on August 7.

According to sources close to the development, the makers of Ohh My Dog have been facing a shortage of screens as exhibitors are expected to prioritize Spider-Man: Brand New Day, one of the most eagerly awaited films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Headlined by Tom Holland and Zendaya, the superhero entertainer is expected to command a massive theatrical rollout, making it challenging for smaller films to secure adequate showcasing.

The postponement is believed to be a strategic move aimed at ensuring Ohh My Dog receives better screen availability and a stronger theatrical presence. While the makers are yet to make an official announcement regarding the revised release date, the film is expected to hit cinemas a week later than originally planned.

The delay comes just days after Ohh My Dog successfully completed its certification process with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film has been awarded a U/A certificate, although the board directed a few modifications before granting clearance.

Among the changes mandated by the CBFC, references to brands including 'Truecaller' and 'Dettol' have been muted, along with a cuss word used in the film. A sequence involving a dog has also been shortened by two seconds, while a photo frame of Lord Hanuman appearing in one scene has been blurred. Additionally, the board instructed the makers to include two disclaimers—one addressing child labour, which forms part of the film's narrative, and another on human trafficking.

Directed by Amit Rai, Ohh My Dog marks the filmmaker's return to direction after a gap. The film stars Pankaj Tripathi alongside Pawan Malhotra, Maahi Rai, Rajesh Kumar and Geeta Agrawal Sharma in pivotal roles.

Adding to its unique appeal, the family entertainer features canine performers Oscar and Bruno, with more than 250 dogs appearing throughout the film. The story explores the emotional bond between a young child and his pet while blending humour, heartfelt moments and social commentary, a storytelling style that has become synonymous with Rai's work.

With its theatrical release now delayed, audiences will have to wait a little longer to witness the heartwarming tale. However, the postponement is expected to give the film a better opportunity to reach viewers without competing against one of the year's biggest Hollywood releases.

Also Read: Amit Rai directorial Ohh My Dog gets U/A certificate after CBFC orders 7 changes

Prosit Roy to collaborate with Dharma Productions for a psychological romance after Raakh success: Report

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Prosit Roy, who recently garnered widespread appreciation for his Amazon Prime Video series Raakh, is reportedly gearing up for an exciting new collaboration. According to a report by Pinkvilla, the filmmaker is expected to join hands with Dharma Productions for an untitled psychological romance, marking a rare and intriguing creative partnership.

While Dharma Productions has long been associated with grand romantic entertainers and commercial cinema, the production house is now said to be exploring a psychological love story with Roy at the helm. If the reports are to be believed, the project is currently in its initial stages of development, with the casting process yet to begin. As per the report, the makers are aiming to take the film on floors by the end of this year, provided everything progresses as planned.

A source quoted in the report shared insight into Roy’s vision for the project, saying, “Prosit has a very strong conviction for psychological stories, and that is clearly visible in the way he approaches his characters. After Raakh, he wanted to take up something that would allow him to explore love and relationships through a psychological lens. This is a very solid psychological love story, and Prosit is extremely passionate about it already.”

The source further added, “Everyone at Dharma is very excited about this film. They believe in Prosit’s vision and the world he has created for this story. It is a fresh take on the psychological love story genre, and the team is keen to bring it to the audience in the right way. The casting process will begin soon, and the makers are looking at taking the film on the floors towards the end of the year.”

Although the film remains untitled and no actors have been finalized so far, the reported collaboration has already generated considerable curiosity among cinephiles. Roy has earned acclaim for bringing layered narratives and emotionally complex characters to the screen, making him a fitting choice for a story that blends romance with psychological elements.

For Dharma Productions, the project could represent another step towards expanding its storytelling palette by backing unconventional narratives alongside its mainstream offerings. A psychological romance is relatively unexplored territory in Hindi cinema, and the reported collaboration has the potential to offer audiences a refreshing take on the genre.

An official announcement regarding the project, including its cast and production timeline, is still awaited. Until then, fans will have to wait for confirmation from the makers on what could be one of the most anticipated filmmaker-producer collaborations in the coming months.

Also Read: Ramayana: Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions comes on board to distribute Ranbir Kapoor starrer in India, says report

EXCLUSIVE: Batwara 1947 trailer to be launched at Jaipur’s iconic single-screen cinema, Raj Mandir, on July 28; Mumbai event on July 29

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With less than three weeks to go for its release, the promotions of Batwara 1947 will be taken to the next level this week, as the trailer of the much-awaited film will finally be unveiled in a few days. In a unique initiative, the launch will be held in two different cities on two consecutive days.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “On Tuesday, July 28, the trailer of Batwara 1947 will be unveiled in the iconic single-screen cinema, Raj Mandir in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Fans and local media will be invited to catch the trailer and also catch a glimpse of Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi.”

The source added, “Raj Mandir serves as the perfect venue for such events in Rajasthan. It has hosted several launches previously, so the management has experience handling fans and stars. Moreover, the single-screen is one-of-a-kind in the country in terms of ambience, screen and sound quality, etc. Also, it’s a theatre close to Sunny Deol’s heart. He promoted the re-release of his cult classic, Gadar – Ek Prem Katha (2001), as part of promotions of Gadar 2 (2023) and the response was extraordinary. He then returned to Raj Mandir to promote Jaat (2025) as well. Both films were successful and, in a way, promotional events at Raj Mandir have proved to be a lucky charm for the actor.”

The source then said, “The next day, July 29, a similar event will be held for media and fans in Mumbai.” Batwara 1947 is produced by superstar Aamir Khan, and he’s also expected to be present at both the events.

Besides Sunny Deol, Batwara 1947 also stars Shabana Azmi, Preity Zinta, Ali Fazal and Karan Deol. The film is highly awaited as it reunites Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi and moreover, it is produced by Aamir Khan.

Batwara 1947 is based on the play, ‘Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya’, by Syed Asghar Wajahat. The Partition-era story revolves around a Muslim family which migrates from Lucknow to Lahore and is allotted a haveli vacated by a Hindu family. The old Hindu matriarch refuses to leave her ancestral home and she also strikes a rare bond with the Muslim immigrants.

Also Read: BREAKING: Sunny Deol-starrer Batwara 1947 passed with an ‘A’ certificate by CBFC