Akshay Kumar and Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s Samuk is continuing to build an eclectic ensemble, and we hear acclaimed actor-filmmaker Rajat Kapoor is the latest name to come on board the sci-fi action thriller.

According to sources, Kapoor is said to be playing a pivotal part in the Kanishk Varma directorial, which is being produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under Sunshine Pictures and co-produced by Aashin A Shah. The film, currently being shot in the UK, is being mounted as a large-scale theatrical spectacle combining science fiction, action and survival elements.

Kapoor is known for bringing a certain assured nuance and intelligence to his performances. Over the years, he has moved fluidly between character-driven parts and mainstream Hindi cinema, with performances in films such as Monsoon Wedding (2001), Bheja Fry (2007), Kapoor & Sons (2016), Mulk (2018), Drishyam (2015), Drishyam 2 (2022), Gehraiyaan (2022), etc., thus forming part of an unusually varied body of work. Recently, Rajat Kapoor was part of the ensemble of Netflix’s Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders (2025) and was also seen in Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga (2026).

Rajat Kapoor brings a very different quality to the ensemble. He has the ability to deliver an assured performance which amps up the movie, and that is important for a film like Samuk. The role has weight within the story, and the makers felt he was the right fit.

Kapoor’s reported addition gives Samuk yet another interesting casting, bringing together performers with very different screen energies around Akshay Kumar.

Samuk marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah after a gap of 13 years. The project has been in development for over two years and is being mounted on a large scale for theatrical audiences.

Also Read: BREAKING: Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah’s Samuk takes authenticity to another level in London; makers use REAL helicopter for dramatic sequence instead of VFX

Sara Ali Khan is in New York for Fashion Week, where she is set to attend the Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2027 runway show. Ahead of the showcase, the actor spoke to Lifestyle Asia India about her approach to fashion, the pieces currently inspiring her, and how she likes to spend her time in the Big Apple.

For Sara, personal style is less about following a fixed set of fashion rules and more about letting individuality take the lead. When asked about a fashion rule she has stopped following, she shared a simple philosophy: “Impress other people, express yourself is my new one.”

She also believes that an outfit should complement the person wearing it rather than become the focus of attention. “Just don't let the outfit wear you, be yourself in whatever you wear and then your personality will come through is what I think,” Sara said. Sara Ali Khan’s current fashion moodboard While Sara has experimented with vibrant and colourful looks over the years, her current fashion moodboard is taking a more understated direction. The actor said she has been enjoying minimal silhouettes and a more restrained colour palette. “Minimalistic, monotones, I'm enjoying that. I've done so much like colourful shock and awe in my life that it's kind of nice to do some basics,” she said.

Her current preference also reflects her broader approach to fashion. Rather than building her wardrobe around every new trend, Sara said she prefers dressing in a way that feels comfortable and authentic. “I don't never really follow trends, I think just be yourself and be comfortable in your own skin has been what I do,” she said. From fashion staples to everyday favourites When it comes to the pieces she is most drawn to, Sara has a soft spot for practical wardrobe staples. Asked about her biggest fashion weakness between shoes, bags, jewellery and jackets, she picked two. “Well, I love winter jackets and I like tote bags, so it's between the two depending on where I'm going,” she said.

For the one fashion piece she believes everyone should own, Sara chose a classic from the brand she is set to watch on the runway. “I think a Tommy Hilfiger cable net,” she said, referring to the label's cable-knit style. What would be on Sara’s fashion soundtrack? Fashion and music often go hand in hand, and Sara took a personal route when asked what song would accompany her outfit for the evening. “My outfit tonight, I don't know something like reminds me, maybe my Columbia school anthem,” she said.

The answer is also a nod to her connection with New York. Sara studied at Columbia University and has previously spoken about her time in the city. Sara Ali Khan’s Perfect New York Day For Sara, a day off in New York is not necessarily about ticking off tourist attractions. Her ideal day involves a mix of exercise, food and plenty of walking. “Barry's Boot Camp, Whole Foods, Mamo, walking, more walking, some desserts, some more Mamo, then you're too tired for Barry's Boot Camp,” she said.

Having lived in the city, Sara also finds that some of the most quintessentially New York experiences are the everyday ones. Asked about the most New York thing she has done on this trip, she said, “I've lived here, so I don't know like what the most New York thing is, like take a subway, talk to a stranger, eat a pizza on the road, just these things.”

From keeping her fashion moodboard minimal to choosing comfort and individuality over trends, Sara’s approach to style appears to be rooted in making fashion work for her rather than the other way around. And as she heads to the Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2027 showcase, her current fashion philosophy seems to be less about making a statement for others and more about expressing herself.

Also Read: Sara Ali Khan taking a Swiss Alps escape with mom is pure bliss; “Mommy & Mountain” poem goes viral

Amaal Mallik has responded strongly to social media users targeting his family amid the ongoing discussion surrounding his song ‘Main Hoon Hero Tera’. The composer took to social media to address the criticism and made it clear that while he may respond to comments directed at him, he would not accept remarks aimed at his family.

On Wednesday, Amaal shared a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, drawing a distinction between criticism of his work and comments about his family. He wrote, “A statutory warning to the entire audience on each & every social platform of the world… Not a word about my family will be tolerated.”

Amaal was referring to the controversy surrounding ‘Main Hoon Hero Tera’, the 2015 song sung by Salman Khan. Addressing the discussion around the song's credits, he explained the contributions of everyone involved in its making. Amaal wrote, “Firstly, know that Armaan Malik has sung the main version, because of which it could be presented to the actor-producer Mr Salman Khan and director Mr Nikhil Advani. I made it, @kumaarofficial sir wrote it, @ArmaanMalik22 sang it; hence it got approved and then @BeingSalmanKhan sir sang it. That’s how the cookie crumbles, and that’s exactly how it happened, okay? FYI, without Me & Kumaar sir, there would be no song to sing. Without Armaan, there would be nothing to play to Salman, sir. Without SK’s face & voice version, the song wouldn’t be where it is today; never denied that. But does anyone even pause to think how much goes into creating a song and then get left out of every celebration post every year.”

A statutory warning to the entire audience on each & every social platform of the world…

Not a word about my family will be tolerated.

Targeting me is part of your game plan, gives you some likes and eyeballs - GREAT!

You are welcome ;)

Last few days I have been seeing… pic.twitter.com/nEx3qvLr3e — Amaal Mallik (@AmaalMallik) September 16, 2026

The composer further warned that he would publicly address those who make comments about his family. He also spoke about standing by his father, Daboo Malik, and his family despite their estrangement.

“I will expose each one of you here if I find you saying anything against my family. Also, if anyone from the film industry, without probable cause or reason, stands up against me and mine, watch out, I’ll be coming for you… Music ka #Srk hoon main, Magar gussa mera #SalmanKhan Aur #SanjayDutt wala hai. Yeh sab doosro ko saath chalta hoga, Daboo Malik aur unki family ke saath Bilkul nahi… Amaal Mallik unke saath khada tha, hai aur rahega bhi. So, bhidna at your own risk. (This might happen with others, but definitely not with Daboo Malik and his family… Amaal Mallik stood with them, stands with them, and will continue to stand with them. So, clash at your own risk).”

The controversy began after Salman Khan Films shared a social media post marking 10 years of ‘Main Hoon Hero Tera’ without initially mentioning Amaal Mallik as the composer. Amaal subsequently called out the omission, following which the post was edited to include his credit.

The incident also led to criticism of Amaal on social media, with some users calling him ‘ungrateful’ towards Salman Khan. Amaal and his singer-brother Armaan Malik subsequently defended his position publicly, resulting in further discussion online.

Also Read : Sau Aasmaan Turns 10: Amaal Malik, Armaan Malik and Neeti Mohan reflect on ‘Baar Baar Dekho’ song˝

Director Meghna Gulzar recently opened up about her experiences of working with several prominent actors, including Irrfan Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Tabu, Sushmita Sen, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. During a conversation for The Indian Express’ Expresso series, Meghna reflected on the different working styles of the actors she has collaborated with over the years. The filmmaker, known for films such as Raazi, Talvar and Sam Bahadur, is currently preparing for the release of Daayra, which stars Kareena and Prithviraj.

Irrfan Khan

Talking about her experience with Irrfan Khan in Talvar, Meghna said she had very little to do when it came to directing him. “I really had nothing to do. Everything he did, he made me look good,” she said. However, she revealed that there was one aspect of their collaboration that she still does not have an answer to. “I still don’t know which side of Talvar’s perspective he believes or agrees with,” she said.

Vicky Kaushal

Meghna also discussed her working relationship with Vicky Kaushal, whom she directed in Raazi and Sam Bahadur. Describing their understanding, she said, “I don’t need to complete a sentence. He knows what I am going to say if I want him to do something differently. That connection is just superb.” She added that finding another role bigger than Sam Bahadur could be difficult. “After Sam Bahadur, it is going to be very difficult to find a role that is larger than that. And the desire to work with him is very much there,” she said.

Deepika Padukone

On Deepika Padukone, who worked with her in Chhapaak, Meghna said, “She is a deep actor. She’ll never stay on the surface. She will go beneath the surface of the character, of the scene, of the story.” She also joked about their similarities, saying, “She’s a bigger OCD than I am.”

Alia Bhatt

Discussing Alia Bhatt, Meghna described her as spontaneous and instinctive. “She is spontaneous and instinctive to a point where she can hurt herself,” she said, recalling the running sequence in Raazi. “The running scene in Raazi is where she would get hurt every day. That is the difficult part. She tends to hurt herself,” she added.

Tabu and Sushmita Sen

Meghna also recalled working with Tabu and Sushmita Sen in Filhaal. While she found Tabu’s performance easy to work with, she admitted that directing an already established actor was not simple. “She is already an accomplished, senior actor. To be telling her what to do and how to do it was not easy,” she said.

Speaking about Sushmita, Meghna said, “What you see is what you get. Very, very not layered at all. The relationship was very easy.” Asked about the difficult part, she simply said, “There was nothing difficult with her.”

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj

On her current collaborators Kareena and Prithviraj in Daayra, Meghna said both actors required very little instruction. “The easy part has been their proficiency as actors. I don’t have to talk about that. There was very little instruction required,” she said. She further noted that their interpretations had gone beyond what she had originally envisioned. “The interpretation they have given for their characters has elevated them more than I had imagined on paper, or between the lines. That’s the very gratifying part,” she said.

However, Meghna admitted that the trust placed in her by the two actors also comes with responsibility. “The immense trust they put in me is very scary. That makes it difficult,” she said.

Also Read : Parvathy Thiruvothu lends her voice to Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Ajooni in Malayalam version of Daayra

The casting of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana has been a topic of discussion since the release of the film’s first teaser. While some viewers have questioned whether the actor fits the role, others have responded positively to his appearance as the revered mythological character. Amid the ongoing debate, Ravie Dubey, who plays Lakshman in the film, has spoken in support of his co-star and shared his experience of working with him.\

In an interview with Variety India, Ravie Dubey praised Ranbir Kapoor’s approach to his work and described him as “simply the best”. Addressing the criticism around Ranbir’s casting as Lord Rama, Ravie said, “I think Ranbir is simply the best we have. He is a superstar of epic proportions, but what has stayed with me even more is the human being and the artiste I have witnessed at close range. The sincerity with which he comes onto a set is unparalleled. His work ethic, etiquette, intensity and preparation; I had heard so much about these things, but I had the privilege of witnessing them firsthand.”

Ravie further spoke about Ranbir’s personality away from his stardom and added, “And alongside all of that is this incredibly grounded, warm and inclusive nature. There is no weight of his stardom in the way he interacts with people. I find that enormously inspiring. It is my great good fortune to be a part of this journey alongside Ranbir, Namit (Malhotra), Nitesh (Tiwari), Yash, Sai Pallavi and every single person associated with Ramayana.”

Ranbir had earlier confirmed that he will be seen in the dual roles of Lord Rama and Lord Parshurama in Ramayana. Speaking about playing both characters in an interview with Collider, he said, “Lord Vishnu had different avatars. Lord Rama was an avatar, and Lord Parshurama was an avatar before Lord Rama. Just to get the opportunity, you know, how I got to play Lord Rama, to also play Lord Parshurama was fantastic.”

About Ramayana

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is based on Valmiki’s ancient Sanskrit epic and follows the life and trials of Lord Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya. The film features Ranbir Kapoor, Ravie Dubey in his film debut as Lakshman, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Yash in his Hindi film debut, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan and Lara Dutta.

The two-part film is backed by Namit Malhotra and Yash under Prime Focus Studios, Monster Mind Creations and DNEG. Mounted on a reported budget of Rs 4,000 crores, Ramayana is slated to release in two parts, with the first instalment scheduled for Diwali 2026 and the second part arriving on Diwali 2027.

Also Read : BREAKING: 4-minute-15-second-long trailer of Ramayana passed by CBFC with a ‘U’ certificate

Rabya Khan, the mother of the late actress Jiah Khan, has issued her first public response after actor Sooraj Pancholi’s name appeared in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) First Information Report (FIR) regarding celebrity manager Disha Salian’s death. Expressing deep concern over the handling of the investigation, Rabya drew sharp parallels between the ongoing developments and her late daughter’s legal journey, questioning the potential loss or destruction of critical forensic material.

Taking to social media without naming specific individuals, Rabya voiced her apprehension regarding the resurgence of familiar names after several years. “When I hear that the same name has surfaced in another young Disha Salian murder six years ago, it deeply saddens me and this must alarm everyone,” she wrote. Concerns over evidence destruction and investigation handicaps Highlighting the pivotal role of forensic integrity, Rabya stressed that once vital evidence is compromised, establishing the facts becomes extremely difficult for both investigative agencies and affected families. She claimed personal insight into how evidence can be manipulated, stating she knows what happens when crucial material is “destroyed” or replaced in a way that can “fool victims”.

She also cited what she called “serious discrepancies” previously noted by the High Court regarding the initial probe into Disha Salian's death. Rabya argued that conducting a fresh inquiry years after an event poses severe challenges if foundational proof is no longer intact.

“No wonder they have specifically said no one is accused without evidence. But when crucial evidence has already been destroyed or lost, a fresh investigation will face an enormous handicap,” she noted.

Rabya further compared the framing of the investigation to her daughter's case. She observed that while Jiah's death was ruled as an "abetment to suicide", there were serious questions over whether the alleged act of "abetting" was thoroughly examined. She claimed a similar pattern is currently unfolding in Disha’s case.

Jiah Khan’s mother says, "System repeatedly fails to protect evidence" In her statement, Rabya expressed worry that a lack of concrete forensic proof could ultimately result in an incomplete judicial process or lead to acquittals. “High Court order will give these accused acquittal due to no evidence,” she warned, questioning why evidence capable of uncovering the truth is allegedly not preserved, leaving grieving families “searching for answers”.

She went on to question institutional protocols surrounding high-profile cases, writing, “Think why the system repeatedly fails to protect the evidence that could establish the truth.” Reiterating her demand for transparency and justice, she concluded, “The people are not foolish, it’s different perception created to hide truth when the system tries to protect them,” adding firmly that “Disha deserves the truth, just as Jiah did.” Background on Jiah Khan’s Case Jiah Khan, who made her Bollywood debut in Nishabd (2007) alongside Amitabh Bachchan and later featured in hit films like Ghajini and Housefull, was found dead at her Mumbai residence on June 3, 2013, at the age of 25. Her death was initially investigated as a suicide, and her then-boyfriend Sooraj Pancholi was charged with abetment to suicide. Following a long trial, a Special CBI Court acquitted Pancholi in April 2023, citing a lack of concrete evidence. Rabya Khan has consistently rejected the suicide ruling, maintaining that her daughter was murdered.

Also Read: Sooraj Pancholi DENIES link to Disha Salian death case after CBI FIR names him alongside Aaditya Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty: “Very unfair and extremely upsetting”

The Supreme Court on September 15, 2026, granted actor Rajpal Yadav a final two-week window to submit a concrete proposal for clearing his outstanding financial dues in multiple cheque-bounce cases. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana extended the actor's exemption from surrendering until October 5, while directing him to deposit Rs 2 crore with the apex court registry.

The bench strongly criticized Yadav’s past non-compliance with judicial directions, observing that his conduct failed to inspire confidence. “He is perfect at doing drama but this court. Earlier orders of the court have not been complied with,” the bench remarked during proceedings, before deciding to grant him one last opportunity to prove his bona fides. Defense cites financial distress and industry support Appearing on behalf of the actor, senior advocate PS Patwalia urged the court to allow two weeks to present a detailed payment roadmap. He assured the bench that Yadav would deposit Rs 2 crore as a demonstration of good faith.

Patwalia informed the court that Yadav had already served four-and-a-half months in prison in connection with the matter, noting that the actor would need assistance from friends in the film industry to arrange the funds.

Representing the complainant, M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd, senior advocate Ajit Sinha emphasized that the firm was primarily focused on recovering the defaulted funds. He told the bench that Yadav had repeatedly failed to honor his financial commitments over the years.

The legal dispute traces back to financial assistance of Rs 5 crore allegedly extended to Yadav for a film project in 2010. According to the complainant, Yadav tendered seven cheques of Rs 1.05 crore each in 2013 as part of a settlement agreement, all of which subsequently bounced.

The complainant further stated that under a 2012 agreement, Yadav, his wife Radha Rajpal Yadav, and their company had agreed to repay approximately Rs 11 crore, inclusive of accumulated interest. The apex court is scheduled to hear the matter next on October 5.

Also Read: Rajpal Yadav gets interim relief from Supreme Court in cheque dishonour cases, asked to deposit Rs 5 crores