JioHotstar has expanded its international presence with its entry into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The move follows its launch in the UK, Canada and Singapore, adding another key market with a large South Asian audience to the platform’s growing global footprint. Through an exclusive partnership with STARZPLAY, JioHotstar will be available as a dedicated streaming destination on the STARZPLAY app and website.

The partnership combines JioHotstar’s content library with STARZPLAY’s regional reach and understanding of audiences in the MENA market. Viewers will have access to new JioHotstar Originals alongside their India releases, with content available with audio tracks in up to 10 languages. The offering will also include television content from JioStar TV channels, films and reality franchises.

Among the content available to audiences will be the upcoming season of Koffee with Karan and the ongoing season of Bigg Boss across six languages. The library will feature content in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla and other languages, along with a substantial Malayalam catalogue aimed at serving the region’s Malayali audience.

The JioHotstar offering will be available through STARZPLAY’s PLUS plan at AED 34.99 per month. The MAX plan, priced at AED 49.99 per month, will combine the complete JioHotstar entertainment offering with STARZPLAY’s sports portfolio, including major sporting events and cricket.

Commenting on JioHotstar’s expansion into the Middle East, Amit Malhotra, Head – International Business, JioStar, said, “The strong early response to JioHotstar across the UK, Canada and Singapore has reinforced our belief in the global opportunity for Indian entertainment. As we build JioHotstar into a truly global streaming platform, MENA is a crucial next market, with one of the world’s largest South Asian diaspora communities and a deep appetite for entertainment across languages. Our partnership with STARZPLAY allows us to enter the region with scale and bring audiences the breadth of JioHotstar, from new originals and daily television to blockbuster films and iconic reality franchises. This is an important step in taking Indian stories, talent and cultural moments to audiences around the world.”

Speaking about the partnership, Maaz Sheikh, CEO of STARZPLAY, said, “The next phase of streaming growth in MENA will be shaped by platforms that bring the right brands together and make the viewing experience more valuable. Audiences should not have to navigate an increasingly fragmented market to find the entertainment that matters to them. Bringing JioHotstar to STARZPLAY is a strategic investment in that future, combining the strength of India’s storytelling with our understanding of this region and the audiences we serve.”

“Cricket has given STARZPLAY a strong and lasting relationship with South Asian audiences across the region. JioHotstar allows us to extend that relationship beyond the match and into the entertainment households return to every day. Our ambition is to make STARZPLAY the destination where every member of the family finds something they value,” Maaz added.

To mark the MENA launch, the Burj Khalifa was illuminated as part of a launch celebration. JioHotstar’s Big Bang was projected onto the world’s tallest building in a display of colour and light, bringing together JioHotstar and STARZPLAY to mark the platform’s arrival in the region.

JioHotstar continues to explore features such as AI-powered personalisation, conversational discovery, interactive entertainment and in-app commerce. With its expansion into MENA, the platform now has an international presence spanning Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East, with its approach tailored to the audiences in each market.

Also Read : Bigg Boss 20 teaser out: Salman Khan drops cryptic Karan Arjun hint ahead of September 6 premiere

Producer Prakash Mahobiya has opened up about the theatrical performance of Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, alleging that the mythological drama faced negative marketing and online campaigns that affected its reach. In an interview with India Today, Mahobiya claimed that the film did not get an adequate opportunity to reach audiences and suggested that an upcoming big-budget film based on the same epic may have influenced the online narrative. However, he stopped short of naming any project or filmmaker and said he could not confirm the information.

Speaking about the film’s reception, Mahobiya said, “It was negative marketing throughout. We never got a chance to reach our audience. The ones who watched our film really enjoyed it. But if they never got to see it, how will they even have an opinion?”

The producer further claimed that he had been told about efforts involving digital creators to discourage audiences from watching the film. He said, “From what we have been told, there are other movies on the same subject coming in, the big-budget film. As far as we know, a lot of negative marketing opportunities have been given to YouTubers, influencers and other people. They are spreading wrong information and asking people not to watch our film,” before adding, “I don’t know for sure, but that’s what we are being told.”

His comments come amid considerable attention around Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, the upcoming two-part adaptation produced by Namit Malhotra. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Raavan and is among the most closely watched upcoming Indian film projects. Mahobiya’s remarks, however, do not establish any connection between Ramayana and the alleged online campaigns against his film.

Mahobiya also admitted that marketing a film was a learning experience for him as a first-time producer. He said, “I have made a film for the first time, and I am new to this industry. I have no idea how to market a film after making it. We are not afraid of the loss, but we are disappointed that not many people managed to watch it. And hence, we want to release the film again.”

Maintaining that Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha offers a distinct interpretation, he added, “There is a lot of difference between your film and the other film that will arrive soon. But we are confident that, given a chance, people would have liked our film too.”

Directed by Abhishek Singh, Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha released in cinemas on September 25, 2026. The film stars Dev Sharma as Lord Ram, Anjali Arora as Goddess Sita, Sheel Verma as Laxman and Rajniesh Duggall in a pivotal role.

Following its theatrical run, the makers are now exploring the possibility of re-releasing the film in cinemas to give it another opportunity to reach audiences.

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By the end of July, international films had amassed Rs. 1,424 crores at the Indian box office, putting 2026 within striking distance of the all-time annual record of Rs. 1,595 crores set in 2019. Leading the charge was Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which emerged as the highest-grossing international film ever in India. The strong momentum continued through August, with international cinema commanding a 15% share of the Indian box office, up from 10% in 2025. The overall Indian box office, too, has been witnessing consistent growth. The cumulative gross box office of all films released in India stood at Rs. 11,833 crores in 2024 and rose to Rs. 13,395 crores in 2025. With 2026 delivering strong results across languages, genres and budgets, Ashish Misra, Head of Commercialisation, Cinepolis India, believes it would not be a surprise if the cumulative box office crosses the Rs. 15,000 crore mark for the first time.

In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Ashish Misra spoke about Hollywood’s impressive resurgence, expectations from Ramayana, the packed final quarter of 2026 and why the year could turn out to be a historic one for the Indian film industry.

How do you view Hollywood's performance so far this year? Not just biggies but even smaller films like Obsession worked big time… Hollywood has bounced back after facing a few barriers. The strikes in 2023 delayed the production and release of several films, and that had a trickle-down effect on box office performance as well. But this year, we have witnessed renewed interest, with films across multiple genres performing well.

Historically, horror has been a promising genre for Hollywood films in India. We have seen that with The Conjuring universe, the Evil Dead series, etc. Hence, Obsession performing well was not a surprise, especially because the film had incredibly positive word of mouth not just in India but globally. Today, in a connected world, when people start praising a movie, we see that sentiment translating into the Indian box office as well. That’s what happened with Obsession.

Meanwhile, Michael also did well. Project Hail Mary caught the imagination of Indian audiences because of its visuals and subject. And now, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has become the biggest Hollywood film ever in India. It is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which tends to perform very well in the country. Its performance has further increased our expectations from Avengers: Doomsday.

Hence, December looks very promising from an exhibitor’s point of view. Besides Avengers: Doomsday, we also have Dune: Part Three and Jumanji: Open World. Overall, 2026 is shaping up to be a very strong year for the industry.

Besides Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three and Jumanji: Open World, Shah Rukh Khan’s King also releases around the same time. Will it be a challenge to divide shows among these four anticipated films? When it comes to programming, it’s ultimately about demand. The idea is to allot more shows to the films that audiences want to watch. To give you an example, Toxic and Hanuman Ansh were playing in cinemas at the same time. Toxic was expected to be a huge grosser, while Hanuman Ansh, despite having released three weeks earlier, was gradually gaining momentum around the same time. Our programming accordingly evolved based on what the audiences were demanding.

What are your hopes from Ramayana? All of us Indians have grown up being mesmerized by the story of the Ramayana. Its theme of good versus evil resonates with audiences across the country. Hence, our expectations from Ramayana are very high.

It is mounted on such a massive scale that we believe it has the potential to become the biggest film the Indian film industry has ever seen. And it’s not just about India. The film also has the ability to take Indian culture and heritage to audiences across the world.

Any final thoughts? 2026 looks set to be the best-ever year for the Indian film industry. It will probably be the first time that the box office in India crosses the Rs. 15,000 crores mark. What is particularly encouraging is that the contribution is not coming from just a handful of blockbusters; a lot of small and medium-budget films are also doing very well. That’s one trend that has given us a lot of confidence.

Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama: Ramayana makers unveil BTS glimpse on actor’s birthday

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has weighed in on the deepfake controversy involving Janhvi Kapoor and the song ‘Chuttamalle’, and the celebrity reaction that followed. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he shared his views on how the matter has been handled.

Varma wrote, "The only thing all the celebrities succeeded in, is to publicise and thereby make crores and crores of people see the objectionable link.. The smart thing would have been to concentrate on catching the perpetrator and publicise that.. Instead what they did is to tweet and bring enormous attention to the victim's identity and the offensive content which is also a crime."

The only thing all the celebrities succeeded in , is to publicise and thereby make crores and crores of people see the objectionable link ..The smart thing would have been to concentrate on catching the perpetrator and publicise that ..Instead what they did is to tweet and bring enormous attention to the victim’s identity and the offensive content which is also a crime — Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 4, 2026

In another tweet, he added, "When you can't WIN , you should JOIN …. . If you fight A I , it will ERASE you out of EXISTENCE." In essence, Varma's view is that a call for action against those spreading the AI-generated version would have been a better approach than a wave of public condemnation.

When you can’t WIN , you should JOIN …. . If you fight A I , it will ERASE you out of EXISTENCE 😔 — Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 5, 2026

For the past few days, Janhvi has been at the centre of a social media storm after a deepfake AI video depicting the actress in an inappropriate manner, made from the ‘Chuttamalle’ song, began circulating on the platform. The actress penned a long note on Monday, 5 October, condemning the act and expressing her disappointment over such cybercrimes.

Janhvi has received strong support from her fans and followers. Her Devara co-star Jr NTR, with whom she featured in the ‘Chuttamalle’ song, also took to the platform to post a scathing message. He was followed by several big names from the South industry, including megastar Chiranjeevi.

The episode has brought two approaches into focus. One, reflected in the reaction of Janhvi and her supporters, is to publicly condemn deepfake abuse and stand with the victim. The other, voiced by Varma, is to prioritise tracking down and acting against the perpetrator while avoiding further spread of the content. Both positions come from the shared concern that AI misuse is a serious problem, though they differ on how best to respond.

Also Read: Janhvi Kapoor condemns morphed AI video from Devara Part 1 song ‘Chuttamalle’: “Consent, choice and respect for a woman’s body should be basic”

The leading heroine in Ayushmann Khurrana’s Mupapa has been revealed. Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that Shreyaa Chaudhry, who has steadily established herself as one of the most promising actors of her generation through acclaimed performances in Prime Video’s Bandish Bandits and The Mehta Boys, is paired opposite Khurrana in Yash Raj Films and Posham Pa Pictures’ upcoming genre-bending thriller.

Known for her natural performances and ability to bring depth and emotion to her characters, Shreyaa has built a strong connection with audiences through a diverse body of work. Her performances across both seasons of Bandish Bandits were appreciated for their natural and relatable portrayal, while The Mehta Boys further showcased her versatility and ability to take on layered characters. With Mupapa, Shreyaa takes another significant step forward in her career.

Directed by Kaala Paani fame Sameer Saxena, Mupapa is produced by Akshaye Widhani (CEO, Yash Raj Films) and Posham Pa Pictures, the banner Sameer co-founded with Biswapati Sarkar, Saurabh Khanna and Amit Golani. The film marks the first theatrical collaboration between the studio and the production house. Although the plot details of the project are strictly kept under wraps, it's expected to deliver an incredibly new visual experience for people in theaters, while promising to keep the audience at the edge of their seats from the word go. The film is presently in the post-production stage and is slated for a release in cinemas on February 19, 2027.

In another significant career development, Shreyaa Chaudhry has also been signed for exclusive management by YRF Talent, marking a new chapter in her professional journey. She now joins the talent management arm of Yash Raj Films, which represents an impressive roster of established stars and some of the most promising names from the new generation, including Rani Mukerji, Ayushmann Khurrana, Sonam Kapoor, Vaani Kapoor, Sharvari, Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda, among others.

Also Read: Yash Raj Films and Posham Pa Pictures’ first theatrical collaboration starring Ayushmann Khurrana is titled Mupapa, set to release on Feb 19, 2027

Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna recently opened up about love, marriage and relationships during a candid conversation with Prakhar Gupta on his podcast. While discussing how relationships evolve over time, the couple shared their thoughts on making conscious efforts for loved ones and the importance of expressing affection, even when partners may feel they already understand each other.

Rashmika explained that while a relationship should not feel like something one person has to constantly “drive”, partners must continue making small efforts for each other. She said, “But also, you know, can I just give you two bits into it? I completely agree with you that you can't be the driver. It has to just be an automobile where it's just, like, going by itself. But also, we human beings always need to keep making efforts for those people who we love, because very often, we make a lot of effort for everyone else other than the people at our own house.”

She further pointed out how some of the simplest expressions of affection can gradually disappear in a long-term relationship. Rashmika said, “I keep thinking that, you know, very soon after you get married, some very basic things you stop telling each other, like 'good morning', or 'are you doing well?' or 'how is your day?' It goes into, 'Huh, my partner already knows now, what's the point of saying it?' And then it could go into, like, 'Why haven't I heard this in such a long time?' And then things in life would be, you know, driving us into different aspects in life generally.”

Rashmika added that these small gestures remain important regardless of how long two people have been together. “So, I feel like efforts, no matter how into the relationship you are, or into the marriage you are, or even if you have kids together, I still feel like those little efforts should be made for each other. And that is love. It's not like... it should be effortless, but also you need to do these things because you want to do these things. And that's something that I believe in love.”

Vijay then revealed how Rashmika herself makes it a point to express her feelings frequently. He said, “No, no, no. She is very clear about it. Yeh toh humare... hum sabse mature hai relationships ke bare mein (She is the most mature one about a relationship compared to all of us). Look at how she is talking. She makes sure she tells me 'I love you' at least 10-15 times a day. And she tells me that it's important that I express. I constantly feel it, but I shouldn't feel like, 'Okay, he knows, and I don't need to say it.'”

Rashmika's point actually made a lot of sense to me. A relationship doesn't stay strong just because two people love each other. It survives because both people keep putting in the small efforts every single day.

And the way Vijay said Rashmika reminds him to say "I love you" and never stop doing the little things... that's probably why their bond feels so genuine. Sometimes it's really the small things that keep a relationship alive.

— Himanshu Yadav (@HimashuYadav07) October 4, 2026

The actor also credited Rashmika for reminding him to communicate those seemingly small but meaningful feelings. “And she tells me, which makes me aware that because we are so caught up in life, sometimes you can forget these smaller, simpler but important things. So, she is the one who actually made me... mujhe toh 4-5 saal kya hai gaadi auto mein ja sakte hai, pata chala main chala gaya (I could have gone on autopilot for four-five years, and before I knew it, I would have gone too far).”

Meanwhile, Ranabaali also stars Arnold Vosloo and several Indian and international actors. The period drama marks Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s third film together after Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade. It also marks their first onscreen appearance following their marriage in February 2026.

Also Read: Vijay Deverakonda praises Rashmika Mandanna’s Mysaa teaser: “Just no more injuries please”

Janhvi Kapoor has spoken out against the circulation of a morphed AI-generated video featuring her from the Devara Part 1 song ‘Chuttumalle’. The incident has sparked widespread concern on social media, with the actress once again becoming a victim of digital manipulation. Janhvi, who has previously spoken about being targeted by deepfake technology, took to Instagram to condemn the misuse of technology and the violation of women’s consent.

In a detailed note, Janhvi highlighted how the objectification of women through manipulated digital content has become an increasingly serious concern. She wrote, “The criminal misuse of technology to objectify women and circulate fictionalised content without consent is deeply violating, bordering on sexual assault. Almost every woman in my industry has faced some version of this, and women everywhere are increasingly being subjected to it,” her note read and continued, “Consent, choice and respect for a woman's body should be among the most basic notions of humanity. Yet somehow, they continue to be treated as complicated. They are not.”

Janhvi further explained that consent cannot be assumed or taken for granted under any circumstances. Drawing an analogy, she wrote, “It is surprising that it still seems too nuanced for some people to understand that even if a woman says yes five days in a row and no on the sixth, that no must be respected. If she happens to wear a miniskirt, it does not give anyone permission to put a camera up her skirt, capture violating angles or visually exploit her body. What a woman is comfortable with, where she draws the line and what she chooses to do with her body are decisions that belong exclusively to her. This is basic.”

The actress also placed the incident within the larger conversation around women’s safety, saying that the threat of violation has now extended into the digital space. “This goes far beyond the ai videos I have dealt with over the last few days, or anything I have personally experienced throughout my career. It is about the larger reality of being a woman, the gaze, the judgement, the constant negotiation for safety, and the feeling that our boundaries somehow remain open to interpretation. That threat has now expanded into the digital sphere, when we have not even adequately addressed the very real, physical fear that continues to disrupt the lives of women every day,” she said.

Janhvi also stressed that the responsibility cannot solely be placed on women to protect themselves - “The answer cannot simply be to "protect your daughter." we also need to undo the conditioning that makes people believe they are entitled to violate somebody else's boundaries in the first place. And part of that change will come from exemplary men with the moral compass and the spine to say clearly what is right and what is wrong.”

The actress thanked her Devara co-star NTR Jr., along with Chiranjeevi, Vijay Deverakonda and Khushbu Sundar, for speaking up against the incident and supporting her. She expressed, “I am deeply touched by NTR sir for taking such a strong stand and condemning this violation. Thank you, sir. When someone whom millions look up to speaks up about something that may not directly concern him, it makes a difference to every woman who has experienced some degree of this behaviour.” “Thank you also to Chiranjeevi sir, Vijay and Khushbu ma'am for amplifying that sentiment and calling for action against this mentality and these immoral practices,” she added.

She concluded by urging people to reconsider the attitude towards women’s boundaries and choice, “I hope everything unfolding around us right now forces those who participate in any form of harassment to introspect. Is it really too much for a woman to ask to simply be treated and seen as a human being? Her body. Her image. Her boundaries. Her choice.”

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