Director Susanne Bier is stepping into the world of Practical Magic 2 with a clear understanding of what makes the franchise special. For Bier, the opportunity was not simply about revisiting a beloved property, but about creating a big-screen experience rooted in relationships, female themes and emotion.

Recalling how she came on board, Bier revealed that the conversation began around Christmas 2024, when she received a call and spoke with stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. “I got a call around Christmas of ‘24. I spoke both to Sandy and to Nicole. “We have this project; it can be really fun. Do you want to read?” And I was like, “Sure, I'd love to read. I mean, I'd love to work with both of you again.” And doing a big, cinematic release that is female-driven and is about something that actually is very close to my heart just sounded incredibly tempting. What intrigued me in the first place was actually making a movie with substantial female themes while making something that is fun and sexy and evocative and sad and moving. I don't even need to question that. That's an obvious yes for me.”

The director was also conscious of the legacy of the 1998 original and the passionate following it developed over the years. Rather than attempting to simply recreate what worked nearly three decades ago, Bier wanted to understand how the story could resonate with audiences today.

“For me, the main thing is how do you take a story which became incredibly relevant 28 years ago? Because the first movie had an interesting trajectory. When it came out, it was a mystifying movie. And then it gained a huge following and fan base that was really adamant and really devoted.”

For Bier, the challenge was to bring magic into a contemporary cinematic landscape without allowing it to overshadow the people at the heart of the story. “And so, I think what was tricky was how do you merge? There have been a number of movies dealing with magical entities, and you have a whole generation of young women and men who have grown up seeing movies like Harry Potter. How do you tell a story today which has magic, but still stays true to being about human beings?”

She believes that distinction is central to what makes Practical Magic unique. “I mean, Practical Magic is much more about human relation than it actually is about magic. But magic is a fundamental core of it, and the magic serves the human purpose.”

For Bier, that combination made returning to the franchise an opportunity she could not resist.

Neena Gupta has spoken openly about raising her daughter Masaba Gupta as a single mother and the choices that shaped their lives. In a recent conversation with Zoom, Neena reflected on Masaba’s childhood and her experience of growing up without her father, former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards, being present in her everyday life.

Neena revealed that she has apologised to Masaba over the years for the circumstances of her upbringing. She acknowledged that some decisions made when she was younger had consequences that became clearer with time.

“I am so honest with her that many times I have said sorry to her that you didn't have a father with you when you were young. It is my fault, but she understands. We all make mistakes. When we are young, our parents tell us certain things and we don't listen. That wisdom comes later,” she said.

Neena also explained that she made a conscious effort to ensure Masaba learned about her father and their relationship directly from her. Rather than allowing her daughter to hear about the circumstances from others, she chose to have honest conversations with her as she grew older.

“I made her like her father. I told her why and what had happened as she grew up. So, there was no malice or anger towards me because I told her the truth. It is very important because, rather than her hearing something from outside, I thought it was better that I told her myself. I think that was a very sensible thing that I di,” she added.

Neena and Vivian Richards welcomed Masaba in 1989. In her autobiography Sach Kahun Toh, the actor had previously spoken about their relationship and the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy. "Vivian and I had an affair and I got pregnant. He had already returned home when I found out," she recalled.

She also remembered telling Richards about her pregnancy and asking whether he would object to her having his child. “I'm pregnant,” she told him. “Would you have a problem if I were to have your baby?" According to Neena, Richards told her to go ahead with the pregnancy.

The two continued their relationship for a few years despite often living apart. Neena later married chartered accountant Vivek Mehra in 2008. Masaba went on to establish herself in fashion before also entering acting. She married Satyadeep Misra in 2023, with both her parents present at the wedding.

On the work front, Neena was most recently seen in Netflix’s Chumbak, alongside Deven Bhojani, Arjun Bijlani, Sumeet Raghavan and others. The sitcom revolves around five multigenerational families living in row houses in the fictional Chumbak Colony. The series was created by Aatish Kapadia and Jamnadas “JD” Majethia.

 Also Read : Chumbak Trailer: Neena Gupta, Deven Bhojani, Arjun Bijlani, and Sumeet Vyas lead Netflix’s new family comedy

Govinda’s wife Sunita Ahuja, has added a new Mercedes-Benz to her car collection. Sunita was spotted at a luxury car dealership in Mumbai with her daughter, Tina Ahuja, as they arrived to take delivery of the new vehicle.

The mother-daughter duo was seen at the dealership before leaving with the new car. Their appearance also caught the attention of the paparazzi, who gathered around to capture pictures of the vehicle. During the interaction, Sunita responded to the photographers with a light-hearted remark. She said, “Humari gaadi toh aane se pehle hi bahut famous ho gayi hai!”

Tina accompanied her mother during the delivery ceremony. The two also participated in a traditional puja at the dealership, with Tina seen breaking a coconut as part of the ritual before they drove away in the new Mercedes-Benz.

The latest purchase adds to the Ahuja family's collection of premium cars. Sunita has previously been seen travelling in luxury vehicles, including a BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine that Govinda had gifted her on an earlier occasion.

Sunita and Tina's appearance at the dealership comes as the family adds another luxury vehicle to its garage. The new Mercedes-Benz was subsequently driven out onto the streets of Mumbai following the traditional ceremony.

Also Read : Sunita Ahuja urges Bollywood to contribute to Nepal flood relief; says, “Nepal is my matrabhoomi”

A couple of weeks after the release and surprising box office performance of Haunted – Echoes Of The Past, director Vikram Bhatt and producer Anand Pandit announced that they would join hands for 1920: Cold Winter. A month later, in July 2026, it was reported that Ahan Shetty has signed the horror flick. And now, Bollywood Hungama has come across an interesting information about the film.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Anya Singh, who became widely known after The Ba***ds Of Bollywood, has come on board as the female lead of the film. The makers were impressed by Anya’s screen presence and talent, and felt that she would be apt for the part. Anya is also excited as she has never attempted horror before in Bollywood.”

Interestingly, both Ahan Shetty and Anya Singh also shared screen space in this year’s super-hit war film, Border 2. While Ahan played the role of Lt Cdr Mahendra Singh Rawat, Anya was seen as his wife, Sudha Rawat. Hence, 1920: Cold Winter marks the second film in which Ahan Shetty and Anya Singh will be paired opposite each other.

As per reports, 1920: Cold Winter will go on floors in November this year. It will be the sixth film in the 1920 franchise. The series began with 1920 in 2008. It was directed by Vikram Bhatt and launched Adah Sharma and Rajniesh Duggal. While 1920 was average, the next film, 1920: Evil Returns (2012), was a semi-hit. It starred Aftab Shivdasani and Tia Bajpai and was directed by Bhushan Patel. 1920 London (2016), meanwhile, was directed by Tinu Suresh Desai and featured Sharman Joshi and Meera Chopra. Vikram Bhatt was involved with the second and third parts as writer and producer.

1921 (2018) was produced, written and directed by Vikram and it featured Zareen Khan and Karan Kundrra. While 1920 London flopped at the box office, 1921 was an average grosser.

1920: Horrors Of The Heart (2023) was also directed by Vikram Bhatt and it was his first association with producer Anand Pandit. Starring Avika Gor and Danish Pandor, the horror flick performed decently at the box office.

Also Read: Anya Singh opens up about changing fashion views; says, “It’s such a generic thought to have, and women do that to other women as well”

Lyricist Sameer had a conversation with Komal Nahta where he criticized the current state of music in Bollywood. He said, “Jo acchi cheez hoti hai, wahi lambi samay tak chalti hai. So even 100 years later, the old songs will continue to find an audience. A producer told me that he has only hired young kids in his office. I replied, ‘Acchi baat hai. Kab se rakha hai aapne?’. They replied, ‘Since 5-6 years’. I told them, ‘There was a time when your company used to come up with 10 super-hit albums every year. But that hasn’t happened in the last 5-6 years. Who have you hired then?’.”

Sameer clarified, “I am not saying that the young kids are not talented. But when the old and new can merge together, it can be beneficial. I worked with Sachin-Jigar in FALTU (2011) and wrote songs like ‘Aaltu Jalaltu’ and ‘Chaar Baje Gaye Lekin Party Abhi Baaki Hai’. I proved with these songs that I could collaborate with young kids and come up with such youthful numbers. If you won’t give an opportunity to Anand-Milind or Anu Malik, how will they prove that they still have it in them? But the makers want to instead work with just the new people. Has that helped?”

Sameer thundered, “No wonder Arijit Singh pagal ho gaya aur industry chod diya. Things became monotonous for him; the sound of most songs is the same. He wasn’t getting variety. Udit Narayan and other songs in those days were offered variety of songs.”

He added, “This is the reason why there has been a deterioration of music. Upar se Dhurandhar ne aur satyanaash kiya. Unhone music ko utha ke background mein daal diya. Look at the teaser of Chauhaan. ‘Jumma Chumma’ plays in the background while all the action happens on screen. They recreated my song ‘Hum Pyaar Karne Waale, Duniya Se Na Darr Ne Waale’ in Dhurandhar The Revenge. But on the screen, goliyan chal rahi hain. Gaana kahaan hai bhai? Now it’s not my father’s industry that I can stop such practices. Yeh tab tak galat hoga jab tak galat hoke sab kuch khatam nahin ho jaayega.”

He further said, “Nadeem (Music director Nadeem Saifi) told me, ‘Pandit ji, don’t worry. Aap chup chaap baitho. Yeh (practice) jab tak aakhri saans na le le, tab tak inko saans le lene do. Fir hum aayenge’.”

Sameer also remarked, “Top banners run by Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar, Sajid Nadiadwala etc. used to patronize good songs. Inko kya ho gaya?”

Ganesh Chaturthi is the perfect excuse to bring out your festive wardrobe and add a little glamour to your celebrations. From elegant sarees and traditional silhouettes to contemporary takes on ethnic wear, Bollywood celebrities have given us plenty of fashion inspiration to bookmark.

This festive season, take cues from these celebrities and put your own stylish spin on your Ganesh Chaturthi look.

Sonam Kapoor

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Sonam A Kapoor (@sonamkapoor)

When it comes to fashion inspiration, Sonam Kapoor is always one to watch out for. Her approach to festive dressing proves that traditional wear does not have to be predictable. If you want to experiment with silhouettes, layering or accessories this Ganesh Chaturthi, Sonam's fashion choices are worth bookmarking.

Aamna Sharif

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by aamna sharif (@aamnasharifofficial)

If you love keeping your festive look elegant and feminine, Aamna Sharif is the perfect style inspiration. Her traditional yet effortlessly glamorous look makes a strong case for choosing a classic ethnic silhouette and letting the details do the talking. Think graceful drapes, delicate accessories, and a polished beauty look for your Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

Janhvi Kapoor

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Janhvi Kapoor (@janhvikapoor)

Janhvi Kapoor knows how to make traditional fashion look effortlessly glamorous. Her festive look is perfect inspiration for those who want to go all out this Ganesh Chaturthi without losing the elegance of Indian wear. Take cues from her styling and add statement jewellery, soft glam and a touch of contemporary flair to your festive ensemble.

Alia Bhatt

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by αlia bhatt 💛 (@aliaabhatt)

For those who prefer understated elegance, Alia Bhatt's style is the perfect reference. Her fuss-free approach to ethnic fashion shows how you can keep your Ganesh Chaturthi outfit sophisticated without going over the top. A beautiful traditional ensemble paired with minimal jewellery and natural makeup can create that effortless festive look.

Sonakshi Sinha

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona)

Sonakshi Sinha’s festive fashion is all about embracing the beauty of traditional Indian dressing. If sarees are your go-to for celebrations, take inspiration from her and make the classic drape your statement. Add some bold jewellery and a confident beauty look to complete the ensemble.

Mrunal Thakur

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Mrunal Thakur (@mrunalthakur)

Mrunal Thakur is another celebrity to look towards when planning your festive wardrobe. Her ethnic looks strike the right balance between traditional and contemporary, making them perfect for anyone who wants to experiment this Ganesh Chaturthi while still keeping the festive spirit intact.

Sanya Malhotra

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Sanya Malhotra (@sanyamalhotra_)

For a more relaxed and modern take on festive dressing, Sanya Malhotra is a great style inspiration. Her looks show that you can have fun with Indian fashion while keeping things youthful and effortless. Take cues from her styling if you want your Ganesh Chaturthi outfit to feel comfortable, chic and anything but boring.

Also Read: Don’t Be Shy trailer launch: Shaheen Bhatt used to ‘RAGEBAIT’ 4-year-old Alia Bhatt: “She said I wasn’t really my parents’ child; I came FREE with Parle-G!”

Veer Pahariya recently visited the Kamakhya Temple in Assam to seek blessings ahead of the release of his upcoming film Prem Keetanu. The actor shared a glimpse of his visit on social media, posting a picture from the temple premises with the caption, “Jai Jai Maa KAMAKHYA,” along with devotional emojis.

For the temple visit, Veer opted for a traditional blue kurta paired with a red and gold stole. He was seen offering prayers at the revered temple as he prepares for the release of his next film.

Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, Prem Keetanu features Veer alongside Aparshakti Khurana, Aafiya Sayed, Rakesh Bedi and Nikhil Vijay. The film revolves around a group of young men and their experiences with college life, friendship, love, aspirations and heartbreak.

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Veer Pahariya (@veerpahariya)

Prem Keetanu is scheduled to release in theatres worldwide on October 2, 2026, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. The film also marks the first production venture under producer Gaurav Verma’s banner, Avanika Films.

Veer made his acting debut with Sky Force and is now set to take on a different role with the upcoming romantic comedy. The promotional campaign for Prem Keetanu is currently underway, with songs including ‘Tu Mera Raiyyo’ already released for audiences.

His visit to the Kamakhya Temple comes as he prepares for the film’s theatrical release. By sharing a glimpse of the spiritual outing, Veer gave fans a look at a quieter moment during the ongoing promotions of Prem Keetanu.

Also Read : Prem Keetanu: Veer Pahariya and Aafiya Sayed rise in love with ‘Kaho Toh’ sung by Armaan Malik; watch song