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Income Tax searches at Ramayana producer Prime Focus’ Mumbai offices; shares FALL 8%

Just days after reports emerged of Income Tax Department searches at premises linked to producers Vashu Bhagnani and Kumar Mangat Pathak, it has now come to light that the tax authorities have conducted searches at the Mumbai offices of Prime Focus Ltd as well. The development comes at a crucial time for the company, with its much-awaited magnum opus Ramayana gearing up for release on Diwali, barely a month from now. According to an exclusive report by CNBC-TV18, the Income Tax Department launched searches at Prime Focus' Mumbai offices on Wednesday morning, October 7. The report further stated that searches were also being carried out at the premises of certain individuals associated with the company. Sources told CNBC-TV18 that the searches are in connection with foreign remittances. However, further details regarding the transactions being scrutinised or the exact nature of the investigation were not immediately available. The news had an impact on the stock market as shares of...

Salman Khan vs Kala Hiran: Delhi High Court seeks reply from actor on Amit Jani’s plea seeking stay on proceedings

The Delhi High Court has sought a response from Salman Khan in connection with an application filed by filmmaker Amit Jani, who has sought a stay on proceedings in the actor’s civil suit concerning the proposed film Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy. The matter was heard before Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, with Jani’s counsel arguing that the reliefs sought by Khan in the present proceedings substantially overlap with those in an earlier suit that is already pending adjudication before the High Court. During the hearing, Jani’s legal team contended that Khan has effectively initiated parallel litigation concerning the same subject matter. On that basis, counsel argued that proceedings in the subsequent suit should remain stayed until the earlier matter is finally decided. Representing Salman Khan, Senior Advocate Ravi Prakash undertook to place the actor’s formal counter-affidavit on record in response to the application. The court also sought clarity on the precise basis of the rel...

Kriti Sanon recalls GIVA ad controversy on the Kareena Kapoor Khan show: “My choli had become like a six-person panel discussion on prime-time news”

Kriti Sanon has revisited the controversy surrounding her GIVA jewellery advertisement, recalling how the campaign’s fashion choices became the subject of intense television debates. During her appearance on Season 6 of Kareena Kapoor Khan’s What Women Want, the actress reflected on the scrutiny female celebrities often face over their clothing and admitted that she was surprised by the scale of the discussion around her outfit. The conversation touched upon moral policing and the disproportionate attention often directed towards women in the public eye. Recalling the aftermath of the GIVA campaign, Sanon said, “I couldn’t believe… when my choli had become like a six-person panel discussion on prime-time news.” Kareena immediately acknowledged her sentiment, responding, “I know.” The controversy dates back to GIVA’s Raksha Bandhan campaign featuring Sanon. The actress was seen in a contemporary Indo-western ensemble comprising a white bralette-style choli, a sheer cape and an embroide...

Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha producer Prakash Mahobiya alleges ‘negative marketing’; hints at big-budget Ramayana saying, “We never got a chance to reach our audience”

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 o...

Ram Gopal Varma reacts to Janhvi Kapoor ‘Chuttamalle’ song deepfake row: “The smart thing would have been to concentrate on catching the perpetrator”

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 conte...

R. Madhavan set to host Game Changers featuring startup founders and global investors; details inside!

Optimystix Entertainment India Limited has announced Game Changers, a new original business reality format that will be hosted by actor and filmmaker R. Madhavan. The show will be produced in Dubai for the Middle East market, with plans to explore its expansion to other territories. Game Changers will bring together startup founders from different parts of the world, giving them an opportunity to pitch their businesses before an international panel of investors. The investor panel will feature representatives from Dubai, London, Russia and the United States. Production on the show is scheduled to begin shortly. The format will focus on entrepreneurship, business decisions and the personal journeys behind companies as founders attempt to secure investment and scale their ventures. Vipul D Shah, Founder and Chairman of Optimystix, said the company sees the project as more than a standalone television show. “Game Changers is being developed as a future-facing global entertainment franchi...

EXCLUSIVE: Shreyaa Chaudhry of Bandish Bandits fame to star opposite Ayushmann Khurrana in YRF and Posham Pa Pictures’ Mupapa

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 P...