The month of August turned out to be a miraculous one thanks to Hanuman Ansh. Released on August 7, the film collected just Rs. 1.07 crore in its first week. The collections slipped to just Rs. 50 lakhs in its second week. After collecting a mere Rs. 5 lakhs on Thursday, August 20, Hanuman Ansh surprisingly collected Rs. 15 lakhs the next day, on August 21. While it earned Rs. 95 lakhs on August 22, the earnings zoomed to Rs. 2.58 crores on Sunday, August 23.

Since then, there has been no looking back for the film. Its third-week collections were Rs. 11.09 crores, while in its fourth weekend it earned Rs. 30 crores, shocking the trade and industry. Hanuman Ansh has earned approx. Rs. 42 crores to date and it seems like it now has a shot at crossing the Rs. 100 crore mark if it holds in the weekdays and the coming week. For a film made in a few crores and made in just Rs. 10 lakhs, this is a historic feat and it has been possible due to positive word of mouth and marketing.

Interestingly, audiences who ventured out to watch Hanuman Ansh have realized that the film ends with the promise of a sequel. A slate at the end mentions that the story of Neeb Karori Baba is yet to be completed. Over the weekend, the team of the film visited a multiplex in Agra, where they interacted with the viewers. Later, speaking to the media, writer-director Vishal Chaturvedi revealed that work has begun on the sequel.

Vishal also revealed that the second part will focus on Neeb Karori Baba’s life in his birthplace, Firozabad, and will then explore his life in Agra, Mathura, etc. Interestingly, Neeb Karori Baba’s family was based in Agra. Lead actor Shobhinaw Satyaa was also present alongside Vishal Chaturvedi at the interaction in the Agra theatre.

Hanuman Ansh was officially announced on February 20 this year, and the makers had revealed at the time that it would be a trilogy. The spiritual trilogy is inspired by the book ‘Divine Detour’, which is incidentally written by Vishal Chaturvedi.

Subhash Ghai has opened up about his past fallout with Salman Khan and revealed how the actor’s father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, intervened after the two had a scuffle. Ghai recalled the incident while discussing his collaboration with Salman in the 2008 film Yuvvraaj.

According to Ghai, his professional association with Salman came after an unpleasant incident at a party. The filmmaker said that Salman was under the influence of alcohol during the gathering when an argument broke out between them. The disagreement escalated into a physical altercation, but the matter was eventually resolved after Salim Khan stepped in.

“Before the film, we had a fight. Hatha paai hui (we had a scuffle). Then his father scolded him,” Ghai recalled in a recent interview with Times Now.

Explaining the circumstances, Ghai said, “We were at a party. Salman was high. He was saying something wrong when I told him, ‘Don’t say that.’ He had some issue with me. He asked me, ‘Why did you do this or that?’ I said it is my decision as a director. He started abusing [me], I asked him not to do that. We had a spat there.”

Ghai revealed that Salim Khan contacted him the following morning and told him that he had reprimanded his son. He then sent Salman to the filmmaker’s home to apologise.

“The very next morning, Salim saheb called me and told me that Salman told all of these things to his mother. He said, ‘I have scolded him.’ He sent Salman to my house to apologise to me. And he came. He politely apologised, after which I fell in love with him because he respected his father so much. I let go of that issue. We often visited each other. After that, we did a film together,” Ghai recalled.

Their reconciliation eventually led to Yuvvraaj, which also starred Anil Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. However, the 2008 film did not perform strongly at the box office.

Ghai has also spoken positively about Salman’s personality in the past, saying, “Salman Khan never gets nervous no matter what. No matter the number of crises and problems in his life, he might become sad, but never nervous.”

The filmmaker further recalled Salman’s decision to stay away from media interviews during Yuvvraaj promotions. Salman had explained, “If you are saying, I will do it, but I usually don’t because media interviews expect us to be politically correct. And if I end up uttering something incorrect about the film, people or myself, it will become a huge controversy. I am happy alone and I like to stay away from the media.

Also Read : 40 Years Of Karma: Subhash Ghai reflects on the film’s lasting legacy

On Saturday, August 29, Bollywood Hungama was among the first to inform readers that Mirzapur The Movie has been passed with an ‘A’ certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). We further revealed that the run time of the film exceeds 3 hours. We now exclusively bring you the cuts given to the gangster-drama.

The CBFC asked for several cuts before handing over the censor certificate to the makers. To begin with, cuss words were muted at 4 places, while at 6 places, the abuses were replaced with ‘appropriate’ words. The dialogue ‘Galey se lag gar’ was also modified.

In the first half of the film, a word was replaced with 'kamar'. Meanwhile, in the post-interval part, the word 'lanth', which means idiot, was asked to be modified. A caste reference was also asked to be modified.

As for the visual cuts, the makers were asked to reduce intimate scenes by 50% through suitable modifications in visuals and sound. This was done in two scenes, one in first half and one in the second half. As a result, 35 seconds of intimate scenes were deleted.

Interestingly, not a single violent and gory scene was censored by the CBFC. Once these changes were made, the censor certificate was given to the makers of Mirzapur The Movie. The length of the film, as mentioned on the certificate, is 197.19 minutes. In other words, it is 3 hours, 17 minutes and 19 seconds long.

The censor certificate also mentions that Mirzapur The Movie was passed by the Revising Committee of the CBFC. Usually, the Examining Committee is the first to view the film, and when it asks for several modifications, the makers can approach the RC. The Revising Committee then reviews the film and makes the final call on the certification and suggested modifications.

Mirzapur The Movie releases on September 4 and stars Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Jitendra Kumar, Abhishek Banerjee, Rasika Dugal, Mohitt Malik, Sheeba Chadha, Rajesh Tailang, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Harshita Shekhar Gaur, Shweta Tripathi, Sonal S Chauhan, Anangsha Biswas, Shaji Choudhary, Sushant Singh and above all, Ravi Kishan.

Also Read: Mirzapur: The Movie teaser out – Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi return ahead of September 4 release

Actor Chandrachur Singh has approached the police over a long-running family inheritance dispute, alleging that his grandfather’s will was forged to prevent his late father from receiving his rightful share of the family property. According to PTI, Singh has named his aunt Gaytri Devi, two cousins and four other family members in the FIR.

The complaint was registered at Rorawar police station in Aligarh on Friday. Singh has alleged that the signature of his grandfather, Thakur Harender Pal Singh, was forged on a will in 1997, at a time when his grandfather was seriously unwell and, according to the actor, was not in a condition to sign legal documents.

Singh has accused his uncle Ganga Singh and other relatives of being involved in the alleged forgery. He claimed that the disputed document resulted in his father, Captain Baldev Singh, being deprived of his share of the family inheritance.

The actor further alleged that his father was not present in Aligarh when the will was purportedly prepared. He also claimed that another uncle, Puniya Pratap Singh, had passed away before Harender Pal Singh.

According to the complaint, several valuable properties mentioned in the disputed will were subsequently sold over the years. Singh said on Friday evening that he had collected sufficient evidence to back his allegations. He also confirmed that he recorded his statement before the police following the registration of the FIR.

Gaytri Devi Had Earlier Rejected Allegations

The family dispute had come into the public domain last year when Gaytri Devi denied the allegations against her. She had accused Chandrachur Singh of attempting to falsely implicate her and maintained that the will was genuine.

Singh’s father, Captain Baldev Singh, was a former Congress MLA from Aligarh city and died a few years ago.

The police have now registered a case and begun investigating the allegations. The claims made by Chandrachur Singh in the FIR are allegations at this stage and have not yet been established.

Chandrachur Singh’s Film Career

Chandrachur Singh has worked in Hindi cinema for several years and is known for films such as Maachis, Kya Kehna and Josh. He starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai in Josh. His filmography also includes Cuttputlli and several other projects.

Also Read : Chandrachur Singh interacts with officials during Gurugram demolition drive outside his residence

Rocking Star Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is not your typical commercial entertainer. The gangster drama unfolds through a distinctive narrative style, combining action, romance, family dynamics, and layered character arcs to create a world that demands your attention.

From its powerhouse performances to its ambitious visual scale, here are five reasons why Toxic deserves to be experienced on the big screen.

1. A gutsy film that dares to tell its story differently Toxic doesn’t take the familiar route. It is bold in its storytelling and builds its narrative in a way that gradually reveals the many layers of its world and characters. The film moves beyond the conventional gangster drama, bringing together action, emotion, love, and family against a larger-than-life backdrop.

2. It’s a film you may want to watch twice There is plenty happening beneath the surface in Toxic. The storytelling is layered and deliberately complex, with details, character motivations and narrative threads that may reveal themselves differently on a second viewing. It is the kind of film that invites you to revisit its world and piece together the larger picture.

3. A performance-heavy film led by Yash and an impressive ensemble At its centre is Yash, and Toxic is very much a showcase of the actor. But the film also gives its ensemble plenty to work with. Nayanthara brings a fearless intensity to her part, Kiara Advani leaves a striking impression, and Huma Qureshi delivers a performance that is haunting and powerful. Meanwhile, Rukmini Vasanth emerges as one of the film’s biggest surprises.

4. A different and softer side of Yash While Toxic is packed with intensity and action, its romantic moments bring a different dimension to the film. Yash’s scenes with Kiara reveal a softer and more vulnerable side of his character, adding emotional depth to the larger narrative. The romance is handled with restraint, allowing the chemistry and emotion between the characters to speak for themselves.

5. International-scale action and striking cinematography The action in Toxic is mounted on an ambitious scale, complemented by cinematography that gives the film a distinct visual identity. From its expansive world-building to its action set pieces, the film aims for a cinematic experience that feels grand, immersive, and unlike the usual.

Also Read: Toxic – A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups BTS: JJ Perry reveals how Yash pulled off the vicious fight action sequence

Akshay Oberoi’s big-budget film, Toxic, finally released in cinemas on August 26. At the film’s trailer launch, held in Bengaluru on August 8, the actor was seen sporting long hair. However, of late, he has gone back to a short haircut. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Akshay revealed the reason behind the change in look and spoke about his upcoming projects and a lot more.

Akshay Oberoi said, “I had signed up for a lovely period film. It’s set in a village during the pre-Partition era. I really loved the script. The character required me to have hair like that; he belongs to a tribe whose members have had long hair for generations. I loved the script so much that I immediately started growing my hair. I was clear that I didn’t want to wear a wig. But for some reason, the film’s funding fell through. It was heartbreaking for all of us. But maybe it’ll happen one day. Meanwhile, season 4 of Aashram is coming. Hence, I cut my hair and I’m off to shoot for it.”

When does the much-watched web series’ fourth season go on floors? Akshay replied, “I believe Aashram went on floors just a few days back and I am joining very soon, early next week.”

After Toxic, Akshay Oberoi is now looking forward to another biggie, King, co-starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan. It releases on December 24. Interestingly, King would be his third Christmas release, the other two being his debut film Isi Life Mein (2010) and Kisko Tha Pata (2024).

When pointed out, Akshay was pleasantly surprised. He said, “Oh yes. My debut film came on Christmas. I had forgotten that Kisko Tha Pata also released on December 24. And now King is also coming on the same day!”

Aamir Khan has had the most Christmas releases, and Akshay Oberoi seems to be following in his footsteps. The actor laughed out loud and remarked, “Oh, I love it. This is too good! What a comparison, man. I’ll take it!”

He then stated, “Thanks for pointing it out. It’s so interesting. I would have definitely not made that connection because these are two different times in my career, as in when I did the first film vis-à-vis where I am right now. It’s funny and interesting to see the whole journey full circle like that. Moreover, King is a film with Siddharth Anand. It’s my second film with him (after Fighter; 2024) and my third project with him (the web series Flesh was written by Siddharth Anand). He’s the one who put me on a map for the mainstream audience. In life, so many coincidences take place that you have to believe in a higher power and accept that we are not in control.”

When asked about King, Akshay Oberoi said, “All I can say is that Siddharth Anand and Mamta Anand are like family to me. I got to reunite with my family, that too on their biggest film. Until my last breath, I’ll repay in whatever way possible for what they have given me. I love them as human beings. I have done a small part, in whatever way I could, to be a part of this humongous, highly anticipated film that my brother and mentor, Lord Siddharth Anand, has made. And he’s indeed a Lord!”

He added, “I badly wanted to be in this film because I wanted to be a part of this big thing that someone I love was making.”

In between Toxic and King, Akshay Oberoi’s film, Love Lottery, will release in cinemas on September 18. The teaser features his emotional voiceover and leaves an impact.

Akshay Oberoi revealed, “It’s a part of a monologue which goes on for 6 ½ minutes. It’s a small film; there was not much of a budget. So, I had to nail that monologue fast. You saw a glimpse of that in the teaser; you’ll hear more of it in the trailer, which comes out soon.”

Love Lottery seems to be very topical and relevant. Akshay agreed, “Indeed. When I read the script, I told myself, ‘I don’t know what the fate of the film would be. However, I want to be a part of it because it deals with a burning topic’. I am all for women empowerment. Men have done a lot of s**t. But now we are in a place where men also need a voice. There should be someone who speaks about men’s rights. I guess that’s why these masculine films are also doing well. Hence, this is an attempt to do something different. The character that I play is a very vulnerable hero. As the tagline says in the poster, he’s a man framed by love. The caption is so apt.”

Also Read: Akshay Oberoi credits Geetu Mohandas’ 13-year-old daughter for his Toxic casting: “Geetu saw Fighter at daughter’s insistence, liked my performance…”; reveals he was asked to perform The Godfather dialogue for audition

Komal Nahta had a conversation with Adnan Sami, during which the latter spoke strongly against the growing trend of remixed songs. Adnan Sami began by saying, “It is always lovely to revive an old song. In my opinion, the ratio should be 80-20, with 20 being the remixed songs. That’s how it was before. But now, it’s 20-80 (laughs)!”

Adnan then stated, “One word that would define this is khauff. The corporates are scared to experiment. It is happening even in cinemas. Remakes are attempted, sequels are made; even prequels are planned! Off-shoots bhi chal rahe hain. First, they made Batman. When they exhausted that character, they decided ‘Joker banate hai’! You see, these are all very safe subjects. The Odyssey recently released; pehli dafa toh yeh nahin ban rahi hai na?”

He added, “Even in our cinema, franchises are made as they are safe. Earlier, such things were very rare. Star Wars and The Godfather had sequels. But this was not a regular thing. The same is happening in music. They come across a super-hit song from the 70s, 80s or 90s. They know it’s a sure-shot success. So, they decide ‘Mukhda wohi rakh dena, antara change kar dena’!”

Adnan Sami continued, “When you ask record labels that ‘aap yeh (remix) kyun kar rahe hain’, they reply, ‘Because public chahti hai’ (smiles). However, the thing is that if a man is hungry and you present him with sookhe chawal, toh woh uspe toot padega. And if you ask someone ‘why you are feeding him sookhe chawal’, he’d reply ‘Yehi toh woh chahta hai. Dekho kitne maze se woh kha raha hai’! But he’s savouring it as you didn’t serve him khichdi or biryani.”

Adnan Sami opined, “What saddens me is that every generation call certain songs their own. My father used to say ‘Dheere Se Aaja Ri Ankhiyan Mein’ mere waqt ka gaana hai. I would feel the same for ‘Chura Liya Hai’. The ones who grew up in the 90s would feel a sense of belonging for the songs of say, Aashiqui (1990). But which song would this generation consider their own? After all, you have mostly presented recreated versions to them.”

He also said, “We often blame music composers for remixes. But the reality is that those poor music directors are asked to come up with recreated versions. Kya woh dil se bana rahe hain? I can give you in writing that no music director ever dreamed as a child that he would grow up and work on remixes. So, don’t blame them; blame those who zabardasti make them do it."

Also Read: “Felt very bad making fun of Subodh,” says Saif Ali Khan at Dil Chahta Hai Reunion; Sonali Kulkarni recalls the actor’s obsession with punctuality even on set