EXCLUSIVE: Excel Entertainment teaming up with Kanika Dhillon for an intense thriller

Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment is rapidly expanding its production pipeline following its definitive deal with Universal Music India (UMI) earlier this year. The banner is assembling a massive slate for the coming years, spanning genres and scales and featuring major stars, including Aamir Khan and Sunny Deol.

In the latest development, Excel Entertainment is teaming up with screenwriter Kanika Dhillon for an intense thriller. Kanika has written the script and will co-produce the project under her Kathha Pictures banner, marking her third production venture following the 2023 Kajol and Kriti Sanon-led mystery thriller Do Patti and the upcoming Taapsee Pannu starrer Gandhari, which is slated to premiere on Netflix later this year.

Details of the project are being kept under wraps, but sources say it will be an engaging thriller exploring themes of morality, ethics and complex societal issues, with two bold and complex characters at the centre of the story. Farhan and Kanika have been actively developing the project over the past few months and are in advanced discussions to finalise the lead cast. Although the director is yet to be locked, the producers are planning to take the film on floors by the end of this year or early 2027.

Kanika is widely known for writing critically acclaimed films centred around complex, bold and flawed female protagonists, including Haseen Dilruba, Manmarziyaan, Guilty and Judgementall Hai Kya. Her writing credits also include Dunki, Kedarnath and Raksha Bandhan. Up next, she has written and is producing Gandhari, a gripping action thriller starring Taapsee Pannu as a fierce mother on a mission. Joram and Bhonsle director Devashish Makhija is directing the Netflix film, which is currently in post-production.

Meanwhile, Excel Entertainment has half a dozen projects in various stages of production. The slate includes Lalkaara, an Aamir Khan starrer sports drama directed by Ashutosh Gowariker; Antony, a high-octane, suspense-driven action thriller starring Sunny Deol and Jyothika; and Mirzapur: The Film, the cinematic adaptation of the popular Prime Video series, which releases in theatres on September 4. Also in the works are Neeraj Pandey's R.D. Burman biopic and Abhishek Chaubey's next Prime Video series.

Also Read: Excel Entertainment turns 25: Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani announce Excel Origins to back filmmakers under 30

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Zoya Akhtar confirms Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara sequel is in works

Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar has confirmed that work on a sequel to the 2011 hit Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is underway. The update comes as the film marks 15 years since its release and follows renewed excitement among fans after Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar reunited for a 2025 advertisement for Yas Island.

The trio’s reunion in the campaign brought back memories of their much-loved characters Arjun, Kabir and Imran. The commercial sparked speculation that the actors could be returning for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2, with several fans even assuming that the advertisement was connected to an upcoming sequel.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the Monsoon Film Festival, Zoya addressed the possibility of revisiting the characters and confirmed that discussions are taking place. “We are on it,” she said. However, the filmmaker made it clear that the project is still being developed and that there is no certainty about what shape it will eventually take.

“We don’t know what will happen and what won’t… if we will get to a place where it feels correct, in catching up with these characters today. But it will be nice,” Zoya added.

She also recalled the strong reaction to the 2025 advertisement featuring Hrithik, Abhay and Farhan. “People thought it was a trailer,” she said. According to Zoya, fans initially celebrated the reunion, only to express their disappointment when they realised it was not a film teaser. “First, they were like, ‘YEAH!’ But then I got abused in my DMs saying, ‘This was not funny.'”

Zoya also responded to criticism that her films often focus on the “angst of posh people.” She said the criticism does not bother her and maintained that filmmakers should be able to tell stories about different kinds of people.

“It still comes up, but it does not bother me now,” she said. “These are stories and, as a filmmaker, I get to tell stories of all kinds of people.”

Released in 2011, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara starred Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin and Naseeruddin Shah. Shot across Spain, India and the United Kingdom, the film was reportedly made on a budget of Rs 45 crores and earned around Rs 153 crores worldwide.

Also Read : Zoya Akhtar’s Turtle Walker to release on Animal Planet as part of India: Epic Wild Stories documentary anthology

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Ananya Raj passes away at 27 after battling physical and mental discomfort

Actor Ananya Raj, known for her work in films including 7 Hours to Go, The Final Exit and Ghost, has died at the age of 27. Her family announced the news through her official Instagram account, revealing that the actor passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of July 15.

According to the family statement, Ananya had been dealing with physical and mental discomfort for more than a year. The note also said that she continued to fight through the difficult period with strength. “This is Ananya's family. With great pain, we have to announce that Ananya passed away in the wee hours of 15th July. She passed away peacefully in sleep. For over a year she was going through physical and mental discomfort. And she fought like a warrior to overcome them,” the family wrote.

The statement further described Ananya as a strong-willed person and requested people to respect the family's privacy during the difficult period. “She was a strong spirited girl and lived like a Queen. Bachcha, your absence will be dearly felt. We urge all of you to pray for her soul. And In these trying times, We wish to maintain privacy and quietitude,” the family added.

 

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Ananya Raj's career

Raised in Mumbai, Ananya worked across Hindi and regional cinema. She entered the entertainment industry through films and music videos and gradually became associated with several projects.

Ananya made her Bollywood debut with 7 Hours to Go in 2016. She later appeared in The Final Exit and Ghost. Alongside films, she featured in music videos associated with prominent labels such as T-Series, Zee Music and Times Music.

Her work also extended to regional cinema. She appeared in the Telugu suspense thriller Thaggede Le, directed by Srinivas Raju, alongside Naveen Chandra, Divya Pillai and P. Ravi Shankar. The film also marked one of her notable regional projects.

Ananya was also part of the trilingual action drama Madrasi Gang, directed by Ajay Andrews Nuthakki. She played Sarita, a woman from Mumbai's slums and the girlfriend of a gangster portrayed by Ranga Jinu. The film also featured Ashmit Patel as a police officer and Adhyayan Suman as a gangster.

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EXCLUSIVE: Industry veterans join hands for Malamaal Weekly 2; Subhash Kale, Chandraprakash Jain announce MEGA collaboration

Bollywood Hungama was the first to confirm that work on the much-anticipated sequel to the iconic comedy Malamaal Weekly is in the works, with Amit Joshi of Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024) fame signed as the director. In recent weeks, we have also made several exclusive reveals regarding the ensemble cast, confirming that Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Parineeti Chopra, Shilpa Shirodkar, Fardeen Khan, Mahesh Manjrekar and Elvish Yadav have come on board for this comic caper. Now, we bring you another massive trade scoop straight from the production desk.

Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that producer Subhash Kale, Founder of Camera Take Films and Vikrant Studio, has forged a strategic mega-association with veteran film financier and producer S Chandraprakash Jain of Sri Mishri Productions to mount Malamaal Weekly 2 on an unprecedented scale.

A source close to the development informed Bollywood Hungama, "Malamaal Weekly 2 is being mounted on a significantly larger and grander canvas compared to the original. The makers wanted a rock-solid production and financial backbone behind a project of this magnitude. Subhash Kale, who has proven his technical prowess on mega-blockbusters like Padmaavat (2018) and Stree (2018), has joined hands with trade titan S Chandraprakash Jain. Their coming together makes this one of the biggest commercial comedy setups in recent times."

S Chandraprakash Jain is a legendary name in the film trade, having financed over 1,800 feature films across South Indian and Hindi cinema, besides producing blockbusters like Thalapathy Vijay’s Thalaivaa (2013). On the other hand, Subhash Kale’s outfits – Camera Take Films and Vikrant Studio – have served as an integral pillar for high-end post-production, line production, and camera services across blockbuster hits like Padmaavat, Kedarnath (2018), Stree, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), and recent prominent films such as Shaitaan (2024) and Khel Khel Mein (2024).

The source added, "This association is unmatched in every sense. On one side, Subhash Kale brings advanced AI workflows, VFX, and top-tier post and line-production capabilities to the table; on the other hand, S Chandraprakash Jain brings decades of trade experience and a deep distribution network. The team is aiming for a spectacular theatrical release with high-grade production values."

Besides Malamaal Weekly 2, Subhash Kale’s banner is currently managing an impressive slate of high-profile projects, including The Confession (starring Nana Patekar), Bhagam Bhag 2 (starring Akshay Kumar), and the biopic of V Shantaram (starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Tamannaah Bhatia).

With a power-packed ensemble cast featuring Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Parineeti Chopra, Shilpa Shirodkar, and Elvish Yadav, combined with this formidable partnership between Camera Take Films and Sri Mishri Productions, Malamaal Weekly 2 has firmly positioned itself as one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year.

Also Read: Malamaal Weekly 2 EXCLUSIVE: Riteish Deshmukh, Elvish Yadav, Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav locked in leads, shoot begins in November

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Vimal Elaichi ad row explained: Why Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff got FDA notices?

An advertisement for Vimal Elaichi featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff has triggered a regulatory debate in Maharashtra, with the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) questioning whether the campaign indirectly promotes pan masala.

The notices, issued by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, relate to a 2024 advertisement in which the three actors promoted Vimal Elaichi. The product is marketed as a cardamom-based mouth freshener, but the FDA has raised concerns over its branding and its association with the wider Vimal pan masala brand.

At the centre of the issue is the concept of surrogate advertising, where a brand promotes a legal product or service in a manner that could also reinforce consumer recognition of a restricted or prohibited product carrying the same or a closely associated brand identity. Why has the Maharashtra FDA questioned the Vimal Elaichi ad? According to the nine-page show-cause notice accessed by NDTV, the FDA believes that the use of the “VIMAL Elaichi” branding could create an association with Vimal Pan Masala.

The notice states that the advertisement “may mislead consumers” and could indirectly promote the identity of a product that is prohibited in Maharashtra. The authority has therefore questioned whether the campaign should be treated simply as an advertisement for elaichi or as a form of indirect promotion for pan masala.

The FDA has directed Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff to discontinue their participation in the campaign and remove related promotional material from their official social media accounts. The actors have also been asked to explain their position. What is Vimal Elaichi and why is its branding relevant? Vimal Elaichi is marketed as a mouth freshener containing cardamom and other ingredients. The controversy does not appear to centre on the legality of consuming elaichi itself. Instead, the FDA's concern is about the Vimal brand identity and whether promoting an associated product can also keep the pan masala brand visible to consumers.

This distinction is important because an advertisement can promote a product that is legal on its own while potentially reinforcing the recognition of another product that is subject to restrictions.

The FDA notice reportedly states that if the use of the Vimal name is intended to “maintain, reinforce or enhance” the brand identity associated with pan masala or tobacco-related products, the communication could potentially be considered surrogate promotion. What is surrogate advertising? Surrogate advertising refers to the practice of promoting one product under circumstances where the advertising may also serve to promote a restricted product from the same brand family.

The concern is particularly relevant to tobacco and pan masala brands because direct advertising of tobacco products is restricted under Indian law. Section 5 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 prohibits advertisements of cigarettes and other tobacco products, including indirect forms of advertising.

The FDA's notice has raised the question of whether the Vimal Elaichi campaign could fall within that broader prohibition if its branding and presentation effectively reinforce the identity of tobacco-linked products. Why were Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff sent notices? The FDA has not only questioned the advertisement itself but also the role of the celebrity endorsers.

The authority has referred to the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA). The guidelines are intended to ensure that endorsements are not deceptive and that endorsers exercise due diligence before promoting products.

The FDA has reportedly sought information including copies of the actors' endorsement agreements, campaign briefs, payment arrangements and details of the due diligence undertaken before they participated in the campaign.

This means the notices are not an immediate finding that the actors have violated the law. They are show-cause notices, giving the actors an opportunity to respond to the allegations and explain their position. What penalties could the actors face? The notice cites provisions dealing with misleading advertisements and endorsements. Depending on the findings, violations may result in financial penalties and restrictions on future endorsements.

The notices have reportedly cited penalties ranging from Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 50 lakhs, along with the possibility of restrictions on endorsing products for a period of up to three years.

The eventual consequences, however, would depend on the actors' responses and the findings of the relevant authorities. Why is Maharashtra strict about pan masala and gutka? Maharashtra has a long history of regulatory action against gutka and pan masala containing prohibited ingredients.

In 2012, the Bombay High Court dealt with challenges to the state's restrictions on gutka and pan masala. The court considered the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with food safety regulations and the state's order prohibiting products containing ingredients such as tobacco, nicotine and magnesium carbonate.

The court ultimately declined to grant interim relief against the implementation of the Maharashtra Food Safety Commissioner's order. It also recognised the Food Safety Commissioner's authority to act against products containing prohibited ingredients under the applicable food safety framework.

The latest notices therefore come against a broader backdrop of Maharashtra's efforts to restrict gutka and pan masala products that fall within its food safety prohibitions. What happens next? Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff will now have an opportunity to respond to the Maharashtra FDA's notices. The regulator's action will also put the spotlight on a recurring question in celebrity advertising: whether promoting an apparently separate product is permissible when the brand is strongly associated with a restricted product.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff get Maharashtra FDA notice over Vimal Elaichi ad: Report

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EXCLUSIVE: Salman Khan, Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor and many other prominent celebs attend David Dhawan's grand 75th birthday bash

One of the most successful directors of Bollywood, David Dhawan, celebrated his 75th birthday on the night of August 15 with lot of pomp. Interestingly, as many as 30 to 35 celebrities graced the special occasion, Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned. The director turned 75 on August 16.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, "The party was held at his house. David Dhawan doesn't really throw bashes but this time, he did so, probably as it's a milestone birthday, and also presumably at the insistence of his family members who dote on him."

The source continued, "Besides son Varun Dhawan and others, the guests included Rajkumar Santoshi, Sunny Deol, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Pradeep (Tutu) Sharma, Padmini Kolhapure Sharma, Dinesh Vijan, Sajid Nadiadwala, Rumi Jafry, and a few others. A total of around 30-35 guests attended the bash."

Bollywood Hungama also stumbled upon an exclusive picture from the birthday party of David Dhawan. The birthday boy can be seen posing with Varun Dhawan, Tutu Sharma and Padmini Kolhapure. Meanwhile, Rajkumar Santoshi is visible in the foreground.

David Dhawan began his career as a director with Taaqatwar (1989). In these 37 years, he went on to direct 45 films, including super hits like Aankhen (1993), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Judwaa (1997), Hero No 1 (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Biwi No 1 (1999), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Partner (2007), etc.

David Dhawan's 45th film, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, incidentally released just two months ago. It starred Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde.

Also Read: Govinda urges Sunita Ahuja to “stay within her limits” after she calls him co-star Komal Rani’s “sugar daddy”

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Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff get Maharashtra FDA notice over Vimal Elaichi ad: Report

Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff have received show-cause notices from the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over their association with a 2024 advertisement for Vimal Elaichi. The state food safety authority has alleged that the advertisement could amount to indirect or surrogate promotion of pan masala, which is prohibited in Maharashtra.

The nine-page notice, issued by Maharashtra's food safety chief Tukaram Mundhe, asks the three actors to discontinue their participation in the campaign and remove promotional material related to the advertisement from their official social media accounts. They have also been asked to explain their position within 15 days. Why has the Maharashtra FDA issued the notices? The actors appeared together in a Vimal Elaichi advertisement in 2024. While the campaign promotes elaichi, the FDA has raised concerns over the use of the Vimal brand, which is strongly associated with pan masala.

“Upon examination of the said advertisement, it prima facie appears that the advertisement promotes the VIMAL brand, which is mainly associated with Pan Masala, a product prohibited for manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale in the State of Maharashtra,” the notice stated, according to NDTV.

The authority further said the phrase “VIMAL Elaichi” appears to establish an association with the Vimal pan masala brand. According to the notice, this could mislead consumers and indirectly promote a product that is prohibited in the state.

The FDA also noted that if the use of the Vimal name is intended to maintain or strengthen the brand identity associated with pan masala or tobacco-related products, the advertisement could be viewed as more than a promotion for an independent elaichi product.

The notice reportedly seeks details including copies of the actors' endorsement agreements, campaign briefs, payment arrangements and information on the due diligence carried out before their participation in the campaign. What penalties could the actors face? The FDA has cited consumer protection provisions concerning misleading endorsements. According to the notice, violations can attract penalties, including financial penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh for a first offence, while subsequent violations can carry higher penalties. The actors could also face restrictions on endorsing products for a specified period.

The notices come as Maharashtra's food safety authorities continue their action against banned tobacco products and gutka. The latest development also brings renewed attention to the debate around celebrity endorsements of products that are marketed as alternatives to pan masala. Akshay Kumar had earlier faced backlash over Vimal ad This is not the first time a Bollywood celebrity's association with the Vimal brand has sparked controversy. In 2022, Akshay Kumar faced significant backlash after appearing in a Vimal Elaichi advertisement alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn. Following the criticism, Kumar apologised to his fans and announced that he would step away from the endorsement.

Also Read: Elaichi Universe expands: After Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn for Vimal, Salman Khan comes on board Rajshree

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