A political controversy has erupted over filmmaker Neeraj Pandey’s upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat. Soon after Netflix announced around 20 new films and series, including this project, protests began in different parts of the country. In Uttar Pradesh, orders have been given to file an FIR against the film.

The controversy is mainly over the film’s title. Members of the Pandit and Brahmin communities have taken to the streets, demanding either a change in the title or a complete ban on the film’s release. Director Neeraj Pandey had earlier reacted to the issue, and now lead actor Manoj Bajpayee has also responded.

Manoj Bajpayee shared a statement on social media saying, “I understand all the sentiments and concerns that people are expressing. I take them seriously. When something you are involved in hurts some people, one stops and listens carefully. As an actor, I only come into the film through my character and the story. For me, this character was of a flawed human being who gradually understands himself and becomes better.”

He also supported the filmmakers, stating that the intention was not to comment on any community. According to him, Neeraj Pandey makes films with seriousness and care. The makers have removed all promotional material, including posters and videos, out of respect for people’s sentiments.

In Ghooskhor Pandat, Manoj Bajpayee plays the role of a corrupt policeman. The film also stars Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, and Kiku Sharda, and is scheduled to release on Netflix this year.

Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji’s much-awaited film Mardani 3 was released on January 30, 2026. The first show has already played in theatres, and once again Rani has delivered. But how is the full film? Read the review to find out.

In the Mardani franchise, Rani Mukerji’s powerful cop avatar has consistently brought engaging stories based on human trafficking. Rani’s performance as Shivani Shivaji Roy has always been strong. And the trailer of Mardani 3 suggested that Rani and the new story of this franchise would be even more powerful. At least till the first half, it can be said that Mardani 3 lives up to its promise.

This time, Shivani Shivaji Roy is faced with the kidnapping case of an ambassador’s daughter. Along with her, the daughter of her caretaker is also kidnapped. As the investigation progresses, it is revealed that the kidnappers are connected to a trafficking ring. This ring is run by Amma (Mallika Prasad). Her trafficking ring is linked to a beggar-mafia. Carrying forward the tradition of the Mardani franchise, the new story also presents Amma as a villain whose very entry can give you goosebumps. Amma is terrifying, ruthless, disgusting, and psychotic. She is one of the most dangerous villains seen on the big screen in recent times.

Amma is so dangerous that she even enters Shivani’s house. The kidnappers separate both the girls. Shivani is about to reach the ambassador’s daughter. Big people are involved, and there is full support from the government machinery. But will this machinery also spend its resources to find the poor caretaker’s daughter?

The case was about finding the girls, and Amma got involved in this case by coincidence. Will the system also step forward to expose Amma’s dark deeds and stop her? The first half is very powerful. Rani is in full form. The story is serious, and you get immediately invested in watching it unfold. Now it remains to be seen what the second half of Mardani 3 brings.

Film slows down in the second half

In the first half, Mardani 3 created a solid build-up. Just before the interval, you come to know that Amma is not the only villain in the film. It is better to find out who the second villain is by watching the film. The second half focuses on Shivani, who has even put her job at stake. But here, Mardani 3 seems to try doing something extra. Suddenly, the film starts trying too many ideas. The beggar-mafia and trafficking angle also brings in drug trials. Shivani’s mission starts becoming somewhat international. In the previous two films, Shivani was a cop who stayed within the system, sometimes fighting the system itself, while keeping human elements above everything to end crime. Her focus was not just on solving the case, but on moral victory. This time, the matter goes one level higher.

Shivani turns into a rebel, vigilante-type role against the system. The story arc of the second villain becomes a bit too unbelievable. Shivani and this second villain start competing in smartness. The film starts focusing more on flaunting the smartness of the story than on binding the audience. To watch a fictional story, as a viewer you have to believe in the plot and the characters. But the second half of Mardani 3 asks you to throw all logic aside, which becomes a bit too much. The film compromises the seriousness of the story just to prove the lead character as a hero. This is the same problem that started appearing in cop-universe films. The Mardani franchise did not have this issue earlier, but this time it does. Such things are also the result of the makers’ ambition to take the franchise to the next level. In the second half, these elements start distracting the audience. At times, the film looks confused. Amma’s excellent villain character ends up being underused. Then, only Shivani’s heroism becomes the main reason for the film to stay afloat. And Rani Mukerji’s performance definitely keeps you engaged.

Overall, Mardani 3 is a film with a strong setup, solid story, and powerful performances

The iconic song ‘Sandese Aate Hain’ from the superhit film Border still holds a special place in the hearts of audiences. The lyrics were written by veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, who also received a National Award for the song.
However, when Akhtar was approached to write for the sequel Border 2, he declined the offer.

Speaking to the media, Javed Akhtar took a dig at the makers and said, "They asked me to write for the film, but I refused. I truly believe this is a kind of intellectual and creative bankruptcy. You already have a hit song and want to modify it slightly and release it again. Either create new songs or admit that you cannot produce work of the same calibre."

After Akhtar’s remarks, producer Bhushan Kumar reacted and explained why including the song was important. At a promotional event, he said,
"I think this film cannot be made without three things — first, the title Border; second, Sunny sir; and third, the song ‘Sandese Aate Hain’. From the beginning, it was clear to us that the song had to be part of the film."

Bhushan Kumar further added, "The lyrics have been changed according to the situation. We are not recreating the first Border, but telling different stories related to the 1971 war and other soldiers. The lyrics are written based on those stories, which is why Manoj Muntashir has penned this version."

The recreated version of ‘Sandese Aate Hain’ is titled ‘Ghar Kab Aaoge’ in Border 2. The song has been sung by Sonu Nigam, Arijit Singh, Diljit Dosanjh, and Vishal Mishra.

With this controversy, Border 2 has generated even more buzz among audiences ahead of its release.

The Gujarat High Court recently questioned a petition filed by two members of the Baloch community who alleged that a dialogue in the newly released film Dhurandhar defamed their entire community. The petitioners, Yasin Allarakha Baloch and Ayub Balekhan Baloch from Gandhinagar, sought directions to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the filmmakers to remove a particular dialogue from the film and its promotional material.

The objectionable dialogue is delivered by a policeman character played by actor Sanjay Dutt and reportedly refers to the Baloch community in a derogatory manner. According to the petitioners, the dialogue compared the community to an untrustworthy animal, thereby portraying them in a poor light. They argued that the statement was not limited to a specific character, gang, or fictional group, but appeared to be a general remark about the community as a whole. On this basis, they claimed that the dialogue was defamatory, hurt community sentiments, and was anti-caste and racial in nature.

During the hearing, Justice A. P. Mayee asked the petitioners to “substantiate” how the dialogue had caused actual prejudice to them. The court pointed out that the film is set in the context of a dispute between two neighbouring countries and largely concerns a region outside India. The judge questioned how members of the Baloch community residing in India were defamed by a dialogue spoken in that specific geopolitical context.

The court orally remarked that the petitioners appeared to be taking the dialogue out of context and emphasized that mere offense or hurt sentiment was not sufficient. The petitioners needed to demonstrate concrete harm or prejudice caused by the dialogue within India.

In essence, while the petitioners argued that the film unfairly generalized and insulted their community, the court focused on the legal threshold for defamation—asking for clear proof of prejudice and relevance—rather than accepting the claim based solely on perceived insult or emotional hurt.

There are many courtroom dramas in films, but this is almost the first time that a courtroom drama will be seen between two well-known actors in real life also. There is a high possibility that Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal, two actors from the Hera Pheri franchise, will now be seen facing one to one in a real-life case in court. This incident is also related to the Hera Pheri film.

The third part of director Priyadarshan's superhit film Hera Pheri is being made, but suddenly actor Paresh Rawal has announced that he will not join the film. The trio of Akshay, Suniel Shetty and Paresh have done a great job in the past.

In the true sense, Paresh Rawal has been liked by audiances, the most in the role of Baburao Ganapatrao. Now, suddenly, crores of fans have been disappointed even before the film's release and the film has received a huge setback.

The rights of this film are currently with Akshay Kumar, so he has decided to file a case of Rs. 25 crore against Paresh Rawal. According to sources, this exit from the film used to happen due to the actor's eccentric nature and the poor producers did not say anything, but Akshay has not done so and has taken the legal route.

For the first time in his 35-year career, Akshay has decided to take a step against his co-star in this way and such a case has hardly happened in the film industry in a long time.

Paresh Rawal had announced in January through a social media post that he would be seen in Hera Pheri-3. Then suddenly last week, the actor himself said that he was not in the film. When rumors started circulating that Paresh Rawal had walked out due to creative differences and money, he tweeted again and said that he had not walked out for any such reason. Therefore, no reason has been clarified for not doing the film.

Auro University’s School of Design successfully hosted its much-anticipated academic fashion showcase, Anvaya – A Reflection of Roots, A Statement of Self, on the evening of April 26, 2025. The event was a resounding success, drawing an enthusiastic audience comprising industry experts, alumni, media representatives, sponsors, and members of the wider community.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Auro University campus, Anvaya celebrated the spirit of connection, lineage, and self-expression. Thirteen curated collections, designed by graduating students, transformed the runway into a canvas of innovation and storytelling. Each sequence reflected deep research, technical expertise, sustainability practices, and personal reflection.

Highlights of the Showcase Included:

• Cobalt Frames brought traditional Shibori dyeing into a new era with contemporary silhouettes.
• Past Present challenged fashion norms by showcasing upcycled materials turned into bold statements.
• Modern Maharajas redefined luxury through the use of Khadi and tailored elegance.
• Sea of Sorrows stirred emotions with garments that spoke of climate grief and ecological concern.
• Tatva and Botanic Flow highlighted sustainable practices through natural dyeing and organic materials.
• Worn Reborn closed the show on a powerful note, emphasizing circular fashion and revival of discarded fabrics.

From breezy resort wear and conceptual art pieces to regal formals and streetwear, the collections displayed versatility, strong narrative voices, and remarkable craftsmanship.

Faculty Reflections:
Faculty mentors expressed immense pride in the students' dedication and growth, noting that Anvaya reflected not just creative skill, but also the development of mindful, ethical, and socially responsible designers.

Leadership Remarks:
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor emphasized how events like Anvaya embody Auro University’s mission of integral education—where academic rigor meets creative freedom, and students are encouraged to create work with purpose, authenticity, and consciousness.

Guest Reactions:
Guests lauded the innovative spirit and maturity of the students' work. Industry experts noted the strong relevance of the collections to current and emerging trends, particularly in sustainability, identity expression, and cultural storytelling.

A Platform for Emerging Voices:
Anvaya not only showcased design excellence but also offered students a platform to engage with the industry and receive valuable feedback, reinforcing Auro University’s commitment to holistic and industry-relevant education.

As the evening drew to a close, it was evident that Anvaya was not merely a fashion show, but a meaningful dialogue between roots and innovation, tradition and modernity, self and society.

About the School of Design – Auro University:
Rooted in the philosophy of integral education, the School of Design nurtures creative and socially conscious designers, preparing them to make meaningful contributions to the global design landscape.