Actor Sonu Sood has come out in support of Alia Bhatt after the actress faced heavy trolling on social media over her recent appearance at the Cannes Film Festival 2026. While Alia attended the prestigious event as the global ambassador for L'Oréal Paris, sections of the internet criticised her red carpet looks and public appearances, leading to widespread online discussions.

Amid the criticism, Sonu Sood took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a strongly worded message encouraging positivity and support instead of negativity. Without directly addressing the trolls, the actor highlighted the importance of celebrating Indian artists representing the country on international platforms.

“When one of our own walks onto an international stage, it should be a moment of pride, not a reason to search for flaws. Not every achievement needs validation from cameras, headlines, or strangers to be meaningful. The courage to stand there, represent your craft, and carry your journey with grace is an achievement in itself. In a world addicted to trolling, choose encouragement.
Because people who are busy building dreams don’t have time to pull others down. Keep shining, my friend. The right people saw your light”, he wrote on Twitter aka X.

The post quickly gained traction online, with several fans appreciating Sonu Sood for speaking up against the culture of online trolling. Many social media users also praised the actor for promoting encouragement over criticism at a time when celebrity appearances often become subjects of intense online scrutiny.

When one of our own walks onto an international stage, it should be a moment of pride, not a reason to search for flaws. Not every achievement needs validation from cameras, headlines, or strangers to be meaningful. The courage to stand there, represent your craft, and carry your… — sonu sood (@SonuSood) May 15, 2026

Alia Bhatt made multiple appearances during the Cannes Film Festival this year and walked the red carpet twice as part of her association with L’Oréal Paris. Apart from her red-carpet outings, the actress also participated in several festival-related events and brand engagements throughout her time at Cannes.

Over the years, Cannes has increasingly become a major platform for Indian actors, filmmakers, and fashion personalities to showcase their global presence. However, celebrity appearances at the international festival frequently spark strong reactions online, often dividing social media users between praise and criticism.

Sonu Sood’s statement has now added another layer to the ongoing conversation around celebrity trolling, online validation, and the pressures public figures face in the age of social media commentary.

Also Read: Sonu Sood joins Billionaires for Peace Conclave in Mumbai; actor says ‘real change doesn’t come from how much you have’

What are the vital ingredients an aspiring filmmaker needs when they have a story to tell but no outlet? Beyond a script, they need financial stability, production expertise, and industry access. Addressing this gap, Humans of Cinema and Safarnaama Pictures have launched a landmark feature film co-production fund of Rs 40,00,000 designed to back an emerging filmmaker with a distinct voice and a clear vision.

In a significant boost to the independent ecosystem, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Shaunak Sen (All That Breathes) and globally acclaimed auteur Vishal Bhardwaj have joined the initiative as mentors. Sen is also attached to the selected project as an Executive Producer.

The high-profile jury for the fund includes actor Imran Khan, filmmaker Arati Kadav (Cargo, Mrs), producer Aman Mann (All That Breathes), and renowned author and festival director Aseem Chhabra.

Harshit Bansal, Founder of Humans of Cinema, shared that the idea took shape when Nazim Momin of Safarnaama Pictures—a US-based engineer and producer—reached out via Instagram with a shared vision to back independent Indian cinema. Together, they aim to support a film that is both festival-ready and engaging for local audiences.

Commenting on the initiative, mentor Vishal Bhardwaj said, “Independent cinema survives because some people choose to believe in voices before the world discovers them. Happy to support an initiative that hopes to find and nurture the next fearless generation of filmmakers from India.”

Shaunak Sen, who will Executive Produce the chosen script, added, “Avenues for independent cinema today are rapidly wilting, and I'm delighted that Humans of Cinema is instating a filmmaker-forward seed fund. I'm excited to work with the chosen scripts.”

The jury also expressed a collective urgency for such a platform. Imran Khan stated, "Initiatives to discover and nurture the next generation of filmmaking talent are sorely needed, and I am thrilled to support the HOC Film fund.”

Calling the co-production fund a “logical next step”, Arati Kadav said, “I am excited to see the young voices and stories I will meet through this venture and I hope this goes from strength to strength in the coming years, where we will see many brilliant and radical voices finding support in this ecosystem.”

Aseem Chhabra added, “This will be a great opportunity for a young filmmaker who is keen to make their first feature and take it to an international festival. Such endeavors are essential if we want to take Indian cinema to the next level in the global market.”

Harshit Bansal emphasized that the country does not lack talent, but rather the avenues to turn scripts into reality. “Our intention is to find the next distinct filmmaking voice from the country, & offer them the financial, production & industry support they need to not just make their films, but also to help them find the right festival & distribution support.

"We feel fortunate that Shaunak Sen & Vishal Bhardwaj have joined our initiative as mentors, with Shaunak also being attached to the selected project as an Executive Producer. Their support & insights will be invaluable for the selected filmmaker as well as us. We’re also grateful to Shaunak’s production company, Kiterabbit Films, for offering us crucial support for this initiative, and to our jury members who are lending their expertise out of their sheer goodwill and a passion to support good cinema,” he added.

The fund is open to all Indian citizens aged 18 and above who have directed at least two short films or one feature film. Interested applicants can submit their projects for a non-refundable fee of Rs 1499.

Also Read: SHOCKING: Irrfan Khan’s car was attacked during Haider shoot in Srinagar; Vishal Bhardwaj reveals, “Any other actor would have left but Irrfan made fun of it. He said, ‘Arre, aisa nishaana tha saale ka…kya throw thi uski’!”

Mohan Kapur made India proud as he appeared in crucial roles in three Marvel titles – Ms Marvel (2022), The Marvels (2023) and Daredevil: Born Again (2025). Yet, he decided to pause his Hollywood career. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Mohan Kapur explained the reason.

Mohan Kapur explained, “The industry is going through a little bit of turmoil over there. Plus, with chacha Trump (President Donald Trump) behaving the way he is (the situation is quite uncertain). In November 2025, my work visa expired. I am not renewing it just now. I fear that if I renew it and head to the States, I may have to return dejected. The makers may reason, ‘Why do we need actors from outside? Aren’t there Asians living in the States? Why don’t we cast them’? I don’t want that situation. Hence, I said, ‘Isko (Trump) jaane de. Once he leaves, I’ll return’.”

Mohan explained why this has not affected him, “I am an actor. You put me anywhere. I’ll do my job. My attitude is ‘Raat gayi baat gayi’. I don’t dwell on past glories or failures. Both are part of life and hence, I forget about them. I don’t wake up the next day and check the feedback my character is getting. I don’t give a s**t. I have done my job. I respect both praise and criticism and love when people take the time to comment about my work.”

He continued, “I can’t go into an uncertain situation. My manager in LA is right now. She remarked, ‘Due to the present mahaul of anti-immigration, characters are not being written with the immigrant population in mind as much as before’. That’s fine. By God’s grace, India is my Karmabhoomi and my Janmabhoomi. The people here are giving me respect and love.”

Mohan further said, “Some people tell me, ‘Now you’ll leave us for Hollywood’. Why would I do so? Tomorrow, if I get work in Uzbekistan, main wahan chala jaaunga. I have a go-to bag. Wherever I am called, I am ready to go.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Mohan Kapur BLASTS producers for casting influencers: “If a girl bends lower and her blouse opens up, people will look inside…that doesn’t mean they’ll buy movie tickets”

Tips Music Limited has responded to the allegations made by Vashu Bhagnani’s Puja Entertainment in an ongoing legal dispute over music and intellectual property rights.

Recently, Puja Entertainment approached a Bihar court claiming that its films, songs, and other copyrighted content were allegedly being used and commercially exploited without proper permission by Tips. The court granted interim protection and directed the parties involved to maintain status quo in the matter.

Reacting to the allegations, Tips issued an official statement denying the claims and asserting that it is the lawful owner of the music rights involved in the dispute.

The statement said, “While formal copies of the order are awaited, Tips clarifies that it is the rightful owner of the music rights in question, supported by valid and binding agreements between the parties. Tips has openly and legitimately exploited these rights for nearly three decades in full compliance with the applicable laws.”

The statement continued, “The claims made by PEIL (Puja Entertainment India Limited) are strongly disputed and appear to be malicious, misconceived, and intended to tarnish the reputation and goodwill of Tips. Tips remains fully confident in defending its rights before the appropriate courts and shall take all necessary legal steps to protect its interest and ownership of rights.”

The matter is currently under legal consideration, and further proceedings are awaited.

Also Read: Puja Entertainment court order seen as landmark moment for producer rights; protection of film IP and legacy rights takes centre stage

Parineeti Chopra has added yet another meaningful association to her journey as she has been announced as the new face of Johnson’s Baby. The actress attended a special event in Mumbai on May 12 to launch Johnson’s Baby’s new nourishment range, comprising milk and rice, and built around the concept of “Poshan Ka Pehla Sparsh” and the idea of “Food for Skin.”

Over the years, Parineeti has emerged as one of the most admired names among the youth. From her film choices to her candid personality and relatable public image, she has always struck a chord with young India. Now, as a new mother herself, her association with Johnson’s Baby feels both timely and organic. Her personal journey into motherhood gives the campaign a layer of authenticity, making her an ideal brand ambassador for a name that has been synonymous with baby care for generations.

Speaking about the association, Parineeti Chopra said, "Motherhood is truly a blessing, and I feel incredibly grateful to be experiencing something so magical. Becoming the brand ambassador for Johnson’s Baby felt very special to me because it allows me to be part of the care and comfort that every mother and baby deserves. I’m looking forward to this association.”

The collaboration also reflects the evolving face of celebrity endorsements, where brands are increasingly looking for personalities who bring not just popularity, but also lived experiences and emotional resonance. Parineeti’s new phase as a mother makes her connect naturally with parents who seek products built around gentleness, safety and trust.

With her warmth, relatability and strong connect with the youth as well as young parents, Parineeti Chopra’s association with Johnson’s Baby is expected to further strengthen the brand’s emotional bond with Indian families. For the actress, too, this marks a special milestone as she steps into a brand journey that mirrors one of the most beautiful chapters of her own life – motherhood.

Also Read: Parineeti Chopra to host Mom Talks on ZEE5; celeb parents open up on modern parenting

Thanks to affordable internet and the surge of social media, information travels faster than ever. The flip side, however, is that fake news and disinformation also have the potential to spread like wildfire. Prominent actress Anupria Goenka experienced this last week when an Instagram handle called ‘Sarcastic Tube’ put up a post attributing a quote to her. The alleged quote claimed that an actor lost control and crossed all limits while shooting an intimate scene with her. The post further claimed that Anupria couldn’t understand what was happening during the scene. The shocking part is that Anupria never made any such statement. She immediately called out the mischief-monger page on her Instagram story and slammed them for their behaviour. It’s been seven days since the controversial post was uploaded, and it continues to remain on the page. At the time of publishing this article, the post could still be seen on the Instagram handle and had not been deleted despite the actress tagging the page and making it clear that she never gave any such quote.

Anupria Goenka recently spoke to Bollywood Hungama exclusively for IIZ: Indian Institute Of Zombies. When asked about this controversial post and whether she plans to take legal action against the handle, Anupria said, “I don’t want to, as I don’t want to give that much energy to it. I don’t even know why and where it has come from. I had said something regarding intimate scenes 2 years back in an interview. Even then, I was misquoted. If you pick out one line in isolation from an interview and make it into a headline, it sounds very different from my entire intention behind the conversation.”

She continued, “Even in that interview, I had clearly stated that, for the most part, I have had very comfortable co-actors. The journalist kept prodding me about it, and I said that there was one instance where I had an issue and communicated to the person that I was not comfortable. Otherwise, on our sets, it has been a very safe environment, at least as per my experience. When you say something, the other person will definitely listen and understand whether you’re comfortable or not. Most directors are very, very sensitive, and so are the co-actors.”

She added, “The idea was to put the attention on agency, that is, being aware of what you want to do and don’t want to do, being very open about it, and not feeling pressured to do something that you are not comfortable with. But it was communicated as if someone had taken advantage of me. It’s so bizarre. I didn’t talk like that. Even then, it didn’t sound as bad as it did in that Instagram post. This one said, ‘He crossed all boundaries.’ Who would cross all boundaries? And why would I say, ‘I didn’t know what was happening?’ I have a mind of my own; why would I not know what was happening? Who talks like that?”

Anupria remarked, “It paints such a feeble picture of a woman, that ‘I am so weak, someone could come and take advantage of me, I could do nothing and now I feel sorry about it’. I’ll neither talk like nor will I ever promote it in the media. I don’t know where it's coming from. I have done no interview in the recent past.”

She concluded by saying, “I am not planning to take any action. I said what I had to say.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Anupria Goenka opens up on her IIZ: Indian Institute Of Zombies role: “Many times, a sexy woman becomes eye candy; very seldom do we see her as intelligent and desirable at the same time”

Huma Qureshi is all set to return to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, adding another milestone to her steadily growing international journey. Over the years, the actor has built a strong reputation for balancing mainstream cinema with content-driven performances, and her Cannes 2026 appearance further highlights her expanding global footprint.

Having attended Cannes previously as well, Huma has consistently represented Indian cinema on international platforms through her unconventional film choices and impactful performances. Whether it was her breakthrough role in Gangs of Wasseypur or critically appreciated performances in projects like Maharani, Monica O My Darling, Tarla and Leila, the actor has continuously backed stories that stand apart. She also expanded her global reach with Army of the Dead, directed by Zack Snyder.

Last year proved to be particularly significant for Huma on the international front. The actor attended both the Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival for her film Bayaan. Notably, Bayaan emerged as the only Indian film selected in the Discovery section at TIFF 2025, earning considerable attention in global festival circuits.

As anticipation builds around her Cannes 2026 appearance, fans are eager to see what fashion and cinematic moments Huma brings to the iconic international platform this year. Known for her confident style choices and strong screen presence, the actor has often made headlines for effortlessly blending glamour with substance.

On the work front, Huma Qureshi has an exciting lineup ahead. She is expected to feature in Toxic alongside an ensemble cast headlined by Yash. She also has projects like Pooja Meri Jaan and Gulabi in the pipeline.

Apart from acting, Huma has also stepped into production with her brother Saqib Saleem under their banner Saleem Siblings. The duo is currently gearing up to complete their first production venture, Baby Do Die Do, which is expected to showcase Huma in a completely new avatar.

Also Read: Red Lorry Film Festival to open with The Testament of Ann Lee, Spotlight Bayaan, close with 13 Days, 13 Nights