Priyanka Chopra Jonas had a playful way of wishing her brother-in-law Joe Jonas on his birthday. The actor shared a candid picture with the singer and actor on her Instagram Stories, turning the family celebration into a light-hearted social media moment.

In the photograph, Priyanka appeared to be in the middle of a conversation with Joe, while he could be seen laughing. Adding to the humour of the candid moment, Priyanka wrote, “FYI, it was not supposed to be funny, joejonas. Happiest birthday bro.” Her caption suggested that the conversation captured in the picture was not intended to be amusing, making the photograph even more entertaining.

Joe's brothers also shared glimpses of his birthday celebrations. Nick Jonas posted a series of quirky pictures from the Pokémon-themed party. The celebrations featured the Jonas Brothers, Priyanka and other family members posing and enjoying themselves amid Poké Ball balloons and Pokémon cards. A specially designed Pokémon card featuring Joe was also part of the decorations.

Nick wished his brother with a Pokémon-inspired message, writing, “Gotta catch 'em all. We love you joejonas happy birthday brother.”

Kevin Jonas also joined the celebrations online, sharing moments from the birthday bash. Alongside the pictures, he wrote, “Epic celebration for an epic brother. We love you joejonas”, followed by a red heart emoji.

Priyanka and Nick tied the knot in December 2018 at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur in ceremonies that followed Hindu and Christian traditions. The couple later welcomed their daughter, Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, through surrogacy on January 15, 2022.

On the work front, Priyanka is set to star in S.S. Rajamouli's Varanasi, alongside Mahesh Babu. She will portray Mandakini, a fierce historian who joins Mahesh Babu's character Rudhra on a global mission to save the holy city of Varanasi from an asteroid named Shambhavi.

Also Read : Priyanka Chopra Jonas unveils Sridevi’s biography ‘Empress’ on late actress’ birth anniversary

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty has reacted to being left out of this year’s Kolkata Film Festival, taking a sarcastic dig at the organisers while comparing the situation with the invitation he received from the Moscow Film Festival. The actor’s comments came during his recent visit to Kolkata for a meeting related to the birth centenary celebrations of Bengali cinema icon Uttam Kumar.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Mithun confirmed that he was not invited to the Kolkata Film Festival. “I wasn't invited to the film festival,” he said. The actor then pointed out that he had received an invitation from the Moscow Film Festival and was preparing to attend the event there.

“I am going to Moscow now; perhaps they will invite me. They are inviting me to the Moscow Film Festival. Yet, here in Bengal, I wasn't invited,” Mithun said.

Mithun appeared to take the situation in a lighter but pointed manner, suggesting that his comparatively limited number of Bengali film appearances might have been a reason for his exclusion. He said, “Main bahut chota artiste hoon, shayad isliye nahi bulaya (I am a very minor artiste. Maybe that's why they didn't invite me).”

The actor’s remarks come at a time when Bengal is observing the centenary of Uttam Kumar, one of the most recognised figures in Bengali cinema. Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Uttam Kumar made his mark in Bengali films and also worked as an actor, director and producer in Hindi cinema. His career gained momentum after early setbacks, with films such as Basu Paribar and Sharey Chuattor helping establish him as a major star. His pairing with Suchitra Sen remains one of the most remembered screen partnerships in Bengali cinema.

Meanwhile, Mithun continues to remain active across film industries. He is set to make a cameo in Rajinikanth-led Jailer 2, which is scheduled for release in 2027. His latest comments have once again brought attention to his absence from the Kolkata Film Festival and his contrasting invitation from Moscow.

Also Read : Dev Adhikari visits Mithun Chakraborty in hospital after the latter’s surgery: “You have always been like a father figure to me”

Saif Ali Khan celebrates his 56th birthday today, and his wife, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, took to her social media account to pen a sweet birthday note for him. The actress shared a series of pictures of him, along with a tongue-in-cheek reveal that all the photos were approved by him.

"Happy Birthday to my forever ride or die. How boring would life be without you… This Insta post pictures are all approved by him… loves it when I post his pictures," her post read.

View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan)

On the work front, Saif Ali Khan will be seen in Haiwaan. Set to release on 11th September, the film is directed by Priyadarshan, marking Saif's first movie with the filmmaker, and also stars Akshay Kumar.

Also Read: Priyadarshan reveals his experience of working with Saif Ali Khan on Haiwaan, calls him, “Too committed”

Headlined by Ranveer Singh, Pralay the ambitious new end-of-the-world action thriller, has officially gone on floors in Mumbai, marking the commencement of filming on one of the most keenly-awaited films.

The film marks Ranveer Singh’s next major motion picture release following Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar The Revenge, which emerged as the highest-grossing film of all time. With Pralay, the actor once again ventures into an unexplored cinematic landscape that is new and disruptive. Ranveer not only headlines the film but also serves as a producer, taking on a story that demands both physical intensity and emotional conviction.

For Ananya Birla, Pralay, a Birla Studios production, reflects her ambition to push the landscape of cinema as a creative catalyst who is looking to collaborate with the modern game-changers in India. For Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal’s True Story Films, it reflects a belief in creating disruption through content.

Pralay stars Lokah breakout actress Kalyani Priyadarshan in a pivotal role, further bringing together an exciting new generation of talent.

Bringing together an ensemble of creative and technical talent from India and around the world, Pralay is directed by Jai Mehta, whose work on Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, which he co-directed with Hansal Mehta, and Lootere has earned widespread acclaim. The film plunges audiences into a relentless odyssey, unfolding against the terrifying possibility of an end-of-the-world catastrophe.

Set against the unmistakable pulse and landscape of Mumbai, Pralay is an original story that seeks to marry breathtaking spectacle with a deeply human emotional core. At its heart is a journey of survival, courage and the instinct to fight for what matters most when the world as you know it begins to collapse.

The film is being shot at live locations in and around Mumbai, as the makers embrace the physicality and unpredictability of real-world environments. This approach brings heightened scale, texture and realism to a world on the brink of annihilation.

Pralay had been in highly technical and intensive pre-production for several months. It’s unprecedented mounting has already earned it the distinction of being one of the most talked about and highly anticipated projects coming out of Indian cinema in current times.

Also Read: Farhan Akhtar takes a dig at Ranveer Singh over Don 3 exit? says “It was a month away from filming, which seems to be a pattern nowadays”

Shaan had a conversation with Komal Nahta about playback singing, his beginnings and a lot more. Shaan began his career as an indipop singer and then graduated to playback singing for movies. Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (1999) was his first film followed by Dillagi (1999). A year later, he sang 'Tune Mujhe Pehchana Nahin' for Raju Chacha (2000). Shaan opened up about his experience while recording the number.

Shaan began by saying, "Singers at that time were divided into two - those who were influenced by Mohammed Rafi and those who were influenced by Kishore Kumar. When I came, there was no precedent of a pop singer, at least for male singers. In female singers, Alisha Chinai and Nazia Hasan had made a mark and had introduced new style of singing."

He added, "There was an advantage as I had a unique take because of my indipop singing. But very early, I learned an important lesson about playback singing. I realized that playback singing for films is different."

He revealed, "I had bagged a song in a big film, Raju Chacha. It was written by Anand Bakshi sahab and he came for auditions. He asked me to sing one line. I sang 'Deewana Hoon Main, Deewana Nahin'. He asked me the meaning of the line. I said, 'It means that I am mad for you but mentally I am not crazy'. He liked my answer and replied, ‘Haan, samaj ke gaoge toh maza aayega’!."

Shaan then said, "I thought I had to sing in pop style. So, I started singing that way. This is when Lalit Pandit saab asked me, 'Kya kar rahe ho tum?'. He explained to me, 'You are not singing for yourself. You won't be there in the video. Video mein Ajay Devgn hai. Woh koi pop singer nahin hai ki woh aise gaayega. Seedhe seedhe notes ko gaao mehsoos karke'!"

Also Read: Sonakshi Sinha talks about working with her brother Kussh S Sinha in Nikita Roy: “His biggest strength is his clarity, his vision”

The much-awaited Batwara 1947 was finally released in cinemas yesterday, August 14. The Sunny Deol-starrer is adapted from the acclaimed and long-running play Jis Lahore Nahin Dekhya. While the core plot of the film remains faithful to the play, the makers have introduced several changes and additions to make the narrative more cinematic and elaborate. In this special Bollywood Hungama feature, we take a look at 10 key differences between Batwara 1947 and Jis Lahore Nahin Dekhya. Warning: The following article contains spoilers and reveals important plot points from Batwara 1947.

1. To begin with, Sikandar Mirza (Sunny Deol) and his family migrate to Lahore from Lucknow in Jis Lahore Nahin Dekhya. In Batwara 1947, the family is settled in Meerut before the Partition riots force them to leave their home overnight and flee to Pakistan.

2. In the play, Sikandar, his wife Hamida, son Javed and daughter Tanno manage to escape from Lucknow together and reach Lahore safely. The film adds a major dramatic track wherein Javed (Karan Deol) gets separated from Sikandar, Hamida (Preity G Zinta) and Tanno (Khhushi Hajare) amid the chaos, at Meerut railway station. He is finally reunited with his family several months later.

3. In Jis Lahore Nahin Dekhya, the Mirza family is allotted the haveli, seemingly without much difficulty, after spending months in a refugee camp. Batwara 1947, however, goes into considerable detail about how Sikandar manages to secure the house.

He repeatedly visits the custodian's office seeking accommodation and is approached by a tout, who tells him that he will have to bribe the concerned officer if he wants a house quickly. An enraged Sikandar confronts the officer for exploiting refugees at such a vulnerable time. Habib Anwar (Ali Fazal), who happens to be present at the office, is moved by Sikandar’s plight and transfers the haveli allotted to him to Sikandar and his family.

The sequence is an effective addition as it explains how Sikandar and his family end up getting a sprawling 22-room haveli at a time when lakhs of displaced families are struggling for shelter.

4. Habib Anwar is a shayar who works at a radio station, and the film also explores his love life. In the play, however, the poet is named Nasir Fazli and neither has a romantic interest nor a stable job.

5. Javed’s character is also considerably expanded in the film. In the play, he has a lovely relationship with his father. In Batwara 1947, apart from being separated from Sikandar during the riots, Javed falls in love with Nishat (Kanikka Kapur), who happens to be the sister of antagonist Yakub (Abhimanyu Singh).

6. In Jis Lahore Nahin Dekhya, Yakub is essentially a local ruffian who intimidates the Mirza family. Batwara 1947 turns him into a much more menacing antagonist. He wields greater influence and also harbours political ambitions.

7. The play largely restricts Yakub’s hostility towards Sikandar to threats and intimidation. In the film, his actions are far more aggressive. He threatens landlords against renting premises to Sikandar for his factory and even takes the dispute to local religious leaders. This eventually results in Sikandar and Yakub being summoned to the Town Hall, adding another layer to their confrontation.

8. One of the most significant sequences in Batwara 1947 is when Yakub’s men storm the haveli, forcibly throw Mai (Shabana Azmi) out and assault her. Simultaneously, they set Sikandar’s factory on fire.

Sikandar is initially occupied with trying to douse the blaze. The moment he learns that Mai has been attacked, he abandons everything and rushes to save her. The entire sequence is not present in the play at all.

9. In both versions, Mai refuses to leave the haveli because she continues to wait for her son Ratan to return. Ratan, his wife and daughter have been missing ever since the riots began. Jis Lahore Nahin Dekhya never conclusively reveals whether the three are alive or dead. Batwara 1947, on the other hand, provides closure to this track through an important sequence which reveals that Ratan (Khaled Siddiqui), his wife (Rukhsar Rehman) and their daughter were killed by rioters.

10. Sikandar and his family gradually develop a deep bond with Mai in both the play and the film. However, the play does not have the Mirza family preparing meals for her, as Mai takes care of her own food.

Batwara 1947 adds a touching scene in which Hamida, having grown extremely fond of Mai, offers to cook for her. Mai initially hesitates because of their different food habits. Hamida assures her that she will prepare vegetarian food separately for Mai, using different utensils. She even promises to cook Mai’s food first before preparing meals for the rest of the family.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Kanikka Kapur recalls Aamir Khan’s reaction during Batwara 1947 audition: “Who’s this girl? She’s good, she’s good!”; reveals, “My grandfather still gets nightmares about Partition”

Amitabh Bachchan recently revisited a warm memory of his late friend and longtime co-star Dharmendra while hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati 18. Remembering the veteran actor’s generosity and grounded nature, Bachchan shared how Dharmendra’s home was always open to people, including those who travelled from his village in Punjab.

According to Bachchan, Dharmendra’s hospitality was so unrestricted that people would often enter his house freely and make themselves comfortable. The anecdote offered a glimpse into the actor’s personality away from the spotlight, particularly his connection to his roots and his willingness to welcome people with warmth.

Recalling one such incident, Bachchan said, “Let me tell you another thing about his house. Their home was a ‘free for all’ whoever came, it was like their own house! I remember one day Dharam ji came home and saw 4-5 men walking up the stairs. So he asked them, ‘Who are you? What are you doing here?’ They said they had come from the village.”

Bachchan explained that Dharmendra initially assumed that his wife had invited the visitors. However, the actor himself apparently had no idea how many people would arrive at his home. “Dharmendra assumed that his wife had probably invited them! He himself didn’t even know how many people were coming and going in his house and always welcomed everybody with love and warmth. He had such a massive heart,” Bachchan recalled. Amitabh Bachchan remembered Dharmendra’s simplicity After Dharmendra’s death, Bachchan had written an emotional note remembering his friend not only for his screen presence but also for his simplicity and warmth. He described him as “the epitome of greatness” and praised the “largeness of his heart” that remained a defining part of his personality.

Bachchan also recalled how Dharmendra remained connected to his Punjabi roots despite spending decades in the Hindi film industry. “He brought with him the earthiness of the village in Punjab he came from, and remained true to its temperament, unsoiled throughout his glorious career, in a fraternity that witnessed changes every decade. The fraternity underwent changes, not him,” he had written.

He further remembered Dharmendra’s “smile,” “charm” and “warmth”, describing the way he extended that affection to everyone around him as “a rarity in the profession.”

Bachchan concluded the tribute with the words, “The air about us swings vacant, a vacuum that shall ever remain vacuus.”

Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan offers a poignant tribute to Dharmendra: “He brought with him the earthiness of the village in Punjab he came from”