Bollywood's biggest stars ignite the screen! From the dazzling premiere of [mention a recently released film or event] to the brewing controversies surrounding [mention a current entertainment scandal], India's entertainment scene is ablaze. This week saw [mention a significant entertainment event, e.g., a music launch, award ceremony, or box office milestone], further cementing India's position as a global entertainment powerhouse. The battle for box office supremacy heats up as [mention competing films or actors], while the digital realm witnesses the rise of [mention a trending OTT series or online sensation]. Beyond Bollywood, regional cinema continues to flourish, with [mention a noteworthy achievement in regional cinema]. From the vibrant world of music to the captivating realm of television, Abtak.com brings you the pulse of Indian entertainment. Dive in and stay updated on the latest news, reviews, and exclusive interviews—your ultimate destination for all things entertainment. Explore the captivating stories unfolding now!
CHENNAI: Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, India's official entry for the 2026 Oscars, opened in cinemas on Friday after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared it with 11 changes, including trimming 77 seconds of footage, altering a cricket match sequence by 32 seconds, and muting/replacing words in 6 places. 1 minute and 17 seconds of footage were censored, in total, according to Bollywood Hungama. Among the deletions were a five-second dialogue, "Aloo gobhi... khaate hai", and a two-second visual of a man performing puja. Even shots of a passing car were modified to fit CBFC guidelines. The Examining Committee (EC) of the CBFC had raised multiple objections, sending the film to the Revising Committee (RC). The RC eventually cleared it on September 12 with a U/A 16+ certificate, the report added. With these changes, the film's runtime now stands at 122 minutes (2 hours and 2 minutes). Adding to the controversy, the makers briefly omitted the name of executive producer Martin Scorsese from the first posters before restoring it in later versions, the Indian Express reported. Earlier this month, Homebound earned a standing ovation at its premiere during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and secured the second runner-up spot in the prestigious International People's Choice Award category. The film had its world premiere earlier this year in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. Starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, the story centres on two friends who aspire to join the police force for dignity and respect, but see their dreams tested by caste, religion, and the hardships of the pandemic lockdown. Homebound is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, with co-producers Marijke de Souza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier, while Martin Scorsese serves as executive producer. Inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's New York Times article "Taking Amrit Home (A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway)," the film marks Ghaywan's return to direction after his acclaimed debut Masaan (2015).
Lucknow, Jan 8 (UNI) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that the belief system of Sanatan Dharma represents the world's oldest culture, standing above comparison with any religion or sect. The CM said, "I inherit a legacy that spans thousands of years, with its cultural and spiritual events equally ancient. The tradition of Sanatan is higher than the sky and beyond comparison." Speaking at the 'Mahakumbh Mahasammelan, he emphasised the profound significance of the Maha Kumbh. He explained that after the Devasura Sangram (the battle between gods and demons), drops of nectar fell ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) -- India will start counting its vast population in a mammoth exercise starting next year. The first census in 16 years will be conducted digitally and include controversial questions about caste for the first time since independence. The Home Ministry announced plans to conduct a two-stage count ending March 1, 2027, in a statement Wednesday night. India's last official census in 2011 counted 1.21 billion people. The country's population is now estimated to be well over 1.4 billion, making it the world's most populous country, according to the U.N.'s Department of Economic an ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
KOCHI: Questioning the censor board's objection to the use of 'Janaki' in an upcoming Malayalam film and the need for modifying its title, the Kerala High Court on Friday observed that 'Janaki' was a common name used everywhere. It also wondered how the name could affect a particular section of society, as it did not belong to any specific caste or religion. Justice N Nagaresh made the remarks during the hearing of the petition filed by Cosmos Entertainments, the producer of 'JSK-Janaki Vs State of Kerala', which stars Union Minister Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran in lead roles. The Tam ...Read More >
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 5 (ANI): Following Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray addressing a joint rally at Worli Dome in Mumbai on Saturday, Union Minister Chirag Paswan said that they were not coming together for language, but for their selfish motives and to recover their lost base. Chirag Paswan said, "They are not coming together for language, but for their selfish motives. They are coming together to recover their lost base. Both brothers saw that staying apart not only reduced their strength but also finished it...I'm not s ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the caste census will greatly benefit the indigenous Muslim community living in both the Brahmaputra and Barak Valley in the state. The Centre on Wednesday announced that India's 16th Census with caste enumeration will be carried out in 2027. The indigenous Muslim communities of Assam have been demanding for a long time, a caste-based census to assert their distinct socio-cultural identities, the chief minister said on the sidelines of the World Environment Day programme here. ''The proposed caste enumerati ...Read More >
Itanagar, Jun 7 (PTI) The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh improved on Saturday with water levels of most rivers receding, even as 33,000 people in 24 districts remained affected, officials said. Twelve people lost their lives and one person went missing in rain-related incidents, including landslides, after the monsoon set in, they said. In its daily report, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said 33,200 people in 215 villages remained affected due to floods and landslides in the state. The water levels of most major rivers and their tributaries were showing a receding trend o ...Read More >
A Delhi University panel's decision to drop proposed postgraduate Political Science papers on Islam, Pakistan, and China has failed to find consensus among the members. Photograph: Courtesy @UnivofDelhi/X While some called it ideological censorship, those who supported the decision termed it a step towards making the syllabus "India-centric" and free from bias. In its meeting on Wednesday, DU's Standing Committee for Academic Matters directed the removal of four elective papers -- Islam and In ...Read More >
VISAKHAPATNAM: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar inaugurated Andhra Pradesh's first Super ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) compliant building at Sagar Nagar in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Terming it a landmark in sustainable infrastructure, he emphasised the government's commitment to energy efficiency and green design in public facilities. The facility will serve as a national-level training hub for power sector staff. He urged power utilities to expedite 20 lakh rooftop solar connections, targeting 10,000 in each Assembly segment. He reaffirmed nine-hour uninterrupted power for agri ...Read More >
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 5 (ANI): Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD leader Rabri Devi on Saturday criticised the ruling NDA government-led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, claiming that they have not done anything in the last 20 years. Addressing the people on the Rashtriya Janata Dal's foundation day today, Rabri Devi said that they had given factories to Bihar, but the NDA government had not done anything. 'Unemployment in Bihar is not a new issue; the government has not done anything in the last 20 years. We gave factories to Bihar, but these (NDA) people didn't do anything. If they h ...Read More >
Anurag Kashyap's directorial debut, Paanch, will finally be released in theatres. The film, which was initially made in 2003, had faced delays due to objections from the CBFC.Source : IMDb Anurag Kashyap's directorial debut, Paanch, will finally be released in theatres. The film, which was initially made in 2003, had faced delays due to objections from the Central Board of Film Certification. However, one of the film's producers, Tutu Sharma, confirmed that Paanch is set for a theatrical release within the next six months. Sharma also mentioned that the film's negatives had slightly deterior ...Read More >
Mumbai, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) It's not every day that Janhvi Kapoor's candid side surfaces online, but her latest exchange with producer Rhea Kapoor did just that. In her latest post on Instagram, the 'Dhadak' actress jokingly pleaded with Rhea Kapoor, saying, "Don't kill me." On Friday, Janhvi shared a couple of her stylish photos in a black outfit and captioned it, Ready for the Mumbai rains ( @rheakapoor don't kill me for the caption)." In the images, she made a stylish statement in a chic black outfit that she paired with a hat and heels. Janhvi Kapoor completed her look with a subtle m ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The Union government announced on June 4 that it will conduct the long-pending nationwide census, starting on March 1, 2027, as the reference point. It is one of the most ambitious exercises undertaken by any democracy, as the nation's population according to the 2011 census was 121 crore (1.21 billion). Though it was supposed to be done in 2021, COVID caused a delay that extended to 6 years. The 2027 census would also take into account caste, an issue that has been politically contentious. Census is not just about counting people. It's about understanding who we are as a nation -- ...Read More >
AP EAMCET Result 2025: APSCHE has declared the results for AP EAPCET today, June 8, 2025. AP EAMCET Result 2025: The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has declared the results for Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture, and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test (AP EAPCET) 2025 today, June 8, 2025. Candidates who appeared for the examination can login and check their results on the official website, cets.apsche.ap.gov.in. AP EAMCET is now called as AP EAPCET. AP EAMCET Result 2025: How To Download Your Result? Visit the official website, cets.apsche.ap.gov.in.Click on "AP E ...Read More >
Tirupathur (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 27 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Centre and the BJP-AIADMK alliance, accusing them of attempting to divide the people of the state along the lines of religious and caste. Speaking to mediapersons in Tirupathur district, CM Stalin alleged that BJP, which has aligned with AIADMK, was engaging in 'fake spirituality and political drama' to create division in the state. 'Those in the Centre are trying to divide the people of Tamil Nadu in the name of religion, caste, etc., and they are doing this continuous ...Read More >
Kolkata, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) The West Bengal unit of BJP, under the leadership of its new State party President Samik Bhattacharya is making all efforts to ensure a political rally in the state, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing it, before Trinamool Congress's annual Martyrs' day rally in Kolkata on July 21. An insider from the state committee of BJP said that the week before July 21, the Prime Minister is scheduled to go for an election campaign in Bihar where the Assembly polls are scheduled later this year. "We are trying hard so that the Prime Minister can spare some time ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
DHARMAPURI: For the third time in the past two months, a wild leopard wandered into a private farmland near Valaithottam village near Palacode and hunted chicken raised by a local farmer. Locals are increasingly distressed and urged the forest department to take steps to relocate the leopard. Over the past few months, there have been several reports of leopard sightings in forest areas near Palacode, particularly in Valaithottam village, near the forest's fringe. There have been two instances when the leopard attacked farmlands, taking away a domestic dog and a chicken. On Saturday, the leop ...Read More >
Mumbai, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) From playing ancillary roles in movies like "Dear Zindagi", and "The Sky Is Pink", to winning hearts as Rishi Singh Shekhawat in Netflix's "Mismatched", actor Rohit Saraf has come a long way. At a time when several new actors tend to draw a clear line between OTT and theatre, Saraf chooses to look at things differently. For him, each medium holds a special place in helping him grow as an actor. Sharing his views on the topic, Saraf said: "I've been very lucky. OTT gave me connection and recognition, and films are now giving me new challenges and a wider canva ...Read More >
MADURAI: Likening the custodial murder of Ajith Kumar in Tiruppuvanam to an 'organised crime by police where the state kills its own citizens,' Madras high court lambasted the Tamil Nadu police and said the action against the perpetrators should be more stringent than in normal murder cases.A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete pointed to 44 external injuries on the person of Ajith Kumar and said no part of the body was spared by the delinquent cops. "Even an ordinary murderer would not have inflicted such kind of injuries," the bench said on Tuesday.The natur ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid heartfelt homage to Swami Vivekananda on his death anniversary. Taking to his X handle, PM Modi, who is on a five-nation tour, paid tributes to the revered Hindu monk. He said that Swami Vivekananda's thoughts and vision for our society remain our guiding light. "I bow to Swami Vivekananda Ji on his Punya Tithi. His thoughts and vision for our society remains our guiding light. He ignited a sense of pride and confidence in our history and cultural heritage. He also emphasised on walking the path of service and com ...Read More >
Punjab '95 Controversy: Diljit Dosanjh has been awaiting the release of his highly controversial film for a couple of years now. The film has been completed and kept on hold for longer than expected due to several reasons. It was recently announced that the biopic will skip India and will be released internationally without any cuts on February 7, 2025, but has been postponed yet again indefinitely. Dosanjh took to his Instagram stories on 20th January mid-night and wrote, "We are sorry and it pains us to inform you that Punjab '95 will not release on 7th Feb due to circumstances beyond our c ...Read More >
Patna: A fresh political confrontation erupted on Monday over RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav's controversial remark that he would throw the new waqf law "into the dustbin" if elected to power in Bihar.The BJP strongly criticised the statement, accusing the RJD-Congress-Left alliance of attempting to stir Muslim sentiments. In response, Tejashwi and his allies vowed to intensify their opposition to what they described as the BJP's "communal agenda".BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Tejashwi of promoting anti-constitutional views and supporting the imposition of Sharia law. In his cou ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Education Minister V Sivankutty has once again reacted to the Central Board of Film Certification's objection to the name of the lead character in the upcoming Malayalam film Janaki vs State of Kerala, which stars Union Minister Suresh Gopi. "My name is Sivankutty... Will the censor board be coming this way?!" Sivankutty wrote on social media. Earlier, the minister had also quipped whether it is a "censor board or senseless board." CBFC had informally objected to the title and character name 'Janaki' for a rape victim, citing religious sensitivities. The Kerala High Court ...Read More >
This is a celebration of everyone who worked so passionately on the film, says the celebrated director. History was made as Payal Kapadia became the first Indian director to have won a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director. Her much talked about movie, 'All We Imagine as Light' has won two GG nominations in total. One for Best Director and the other for Best Motion Picture (Non-English). The two prestigious nominations at the 82nd Golden Globes mark a milestone in Indian cinema. After Canne ...Read More >
Census 2027: India's largest data exercise returns with digital tools and caste focus | Illustration: Binay Sinha After a nearly six-year delay, India's decennial census is finally back on the agenda. It would be conducted in two phases along with the enumeration of castes. India's population census is expected to be released on March 1, 2027. Here is everything known so far. What is the census and why it matters India's census is the largest population count in the world, conducted every 10 years by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Aff ...Read More >
Vellore, Jun 26 (PTI) Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday hit out at the AIADMK alleging they remained mute spectators when the Dravidian icons, including reformist leader Periyar EV Ramasamy, who shaped Tamil Nadu were denigrated in a conference held days ago by a Sangh Parivar outfit. Stalin alleged the BJP was trying to divide the Tamil Nadu people on the basis of religion and caste. While the Saffron party alleged "threat to religion," it is only the BJP alliance that is in danger, he said. Addressing a government function in Tirupathur district, Stalin said, in view of the resounding ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: As Congress MP from Sivaganga Karti P Chidambaram said there was a need for a new political party focused purely on urban issues, which avoids emotive issues like religion, caste and language, Congress leadership chose not to make any official comment.Seniors in the party said it was best to ignore the remarks, with one jibing that no one was losing sleep over remarks made either by former Union finance minister P Chidambaram in May on the state of the INDIA bloc or now by his son Kart ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) It was a belligerent, brilliant, and breathtaking performance from the Chennai Bulls, who were crowned the first ever champions of the Rugby Premier League, here in Mumbai, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex. The Chennai Bulls thrashed the Delhi Redz by a scoreline of 41-0 in the final, to clinch the title. In fact, the margin of victory is the biggest across Season 1 of the GMR RPL. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Heroes, who had finished top of the table in the league stage, came away with a third-place finish, after they won 17-12 against the Bengaluru Bra ...Read More >