Copy cat saga
Emraan Hashmi and Disha Patani
The trailer of ‘Awarapan 2’, starring Emraan Hashmi, dropped on Thursday, offering a gritty glimpse into the actor’s fan favourite character Shivam Pandit’s return nearly two decades after the cult original, ‘Awarapan’ (2007). Fans praised the intense, spoiler-free promo, but eagle-eyed netizens spotted another talking point — the trailer thumbnail and poster bear a striking resemblance to the iconic ‘Homeland’ artwork. Both feature the lead turning back amid a sea of similarly dressed figures, with a contrasting splash of colour creating an almost identical visual composition.
The other controversy
Amaal Malik
Composer Amaal Malik recently alleged that the music of ‘Awarapan 2’ was being targeted by a “paid PR” campaign orchestrated by “rival elements” in the industry. He urged those behind the alleged campaign to “save your funds for your next films”, expressing confidence that the film’s music would ultimately speak for itself.
Not defined by the lulls
Tiger Shroff
Tiger Shroff appears to be regaining momentum after a string of underperforming films. According to reports, the actor has signed Remo D’Souza’s next film for a fee of Rs 10 crore, marking his return to the double-digit pay bracket in the post-pandemic era. A source told Bollywood Hungama that Tiger had earlier reduced his fee for Hitman and Lag Ja Gale, but is now “back in the race” and confident that both films will “hit the bullseye” at the box office.
Tiger’s struggle is real
‘Ganapath ‘(2023): Earned Rs 13.38 crore worldwide, despite a reported budget of over Rs 200 crore
‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ (2024): Collected Rs 102.16 crore worldwide, falling well short of its reported Rs 300+ crore production cost
‘Baaghi 4’ (2025): Finished with Rs 66.39 crore worldwide and was declared a flop
Embracing feminism
Sanya Malhotra
Actor Sanya Malhotra has opened up about embracing feminism, saying it is “not just for women, it’s for men also”. Speaking on Lilly Singh’s podcast Shame-Less, the Mrs (2024) actor said she wants to “portray women the right way” through her work and use her platform responsibly. Reflecting on her journey since Dangal (2016), Sanya said moving to Mumbai and learning about patriarchy changed her perspective. “Even if my films spark a one per cent shift, I’m happy,” she added.
Richa’s become a Mumbai girl
Richa Chadha
Last seen as Lajjo in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi, actor-turned-producer Richa Chadha has announced that she will be the face of the upcoming non-fiction series, Musafiri, an eight-episode exploration of Mumbai’s people, culture, and hidden histories. Calling it her “love letter” to the city, Richa said, “Mumbai has been my karmabhoomi. Every street and neighbourhood has a story waiting to be told.” She added that the series aims to inspire viewers to “travel with curiosity”.
More about Richa Chadha
‘Musafir’ marks Richa Chadha’s first on-screen project since welcoming her daughter in 2024 and taking a maternity break