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‘Doctor Strange 2’ star Elizabeth Olsen on how Scarlett Johansson taught her to be a superhero

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Actress Elizabeth Olsen’s character Wanda Maximoff in the ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ is at her most complex, as her relationship with the title character essayed by English star Benedict Cumberbatch, grows more tangled over the course of the film.

However, Olsen, whose portrayal of the mystical Scarlet Witch has made her a consistent MCU fan favourite, says that no matter what Wanda goes through, she’ll continue to defend the character, reports ‘Variety’.

“I remember people saying at the end of ‘Wandavision’. ‘She has no accountability’,” Olsen told ‘Variety’ senior entertainment reporter Angelique Jackson on the red carpet at the ‘Multiverse of Madness’ premiere on Monday.

“She’s gonna take accountability for herself, she’s gonna isolate, she’s gonna think about it, and she’s gonna grow.”

Although ‘Multiverse of Madness’ is a sequel to the 2016 ‘Doctor Strange’ film, it also follows many of the plot threads of the critically acclaimed Disney+ series ‘Wandavision’, which saw Olsen and Paul Bettany headline as Wanda and the android Vision.

Olsen jumped into filming on ‘Doctor Strange 2’ right after she wrapped ‘Wandavision’.

“Getting to do ‘Wandavision’ and then coming into this film, my priority was, how do we continue the thread, but how do we also make it different?” Olsen recalled.

“How is there an evolution, how can we keep it exciting for the fans? And how can we ground her and show them something they haven’t seen yet? And I’m really looking forward for the fan response after this film. I think everyone’s in for a ride.”

‘Wandavision’ is one of the most well-received MCU projects, garnering multiple Emmy nominations, including nods for Olson, Bettany and Kathryn Hahn.

However, because the series premiered early 2021, amid the Covid pandemic lockdowns, Olsen didn’t get to experience the glitz and glamour of a premiere party or the in-person fan response to the show until the ‘Multiverse of Madness’ press tour.

“It’s really surreal. I keep hearing about the response, but it’s hard to actually connect with it until you’re actually at a premiere like this,” Olsen said.

“It’s wild. This is eight years now for me with Marvel, and I just feel so grateful to still be here and to have grown this character to what she’s become. But I’m also grateful to Kevin Feige for giving me the opportunity to do ‘Wandavision’ and having the idea.”

In addition to continuing Wanda’s story, ‘Multiverse of Madness’ introduces a new superhero, 16-year-old Xochitl Gomez as the reality-hopping America Chavez. Olsen shared how impressed she was by the young actor’s poise when joining the MCU.

“She has such a vitality to her, she has so much confidence being so young,” Olsen said.

“She has so much confidence being so young. I was 25 when I started, and she’s way better off than I was when I started.”

Olsen made her MCU debut in 2015’s ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’.

Much like Gomez looked to her to learn the superhero ropes while filming ‘Multiverse of Madness,” Olsen studied franchise veteran Scarlett Johansson, who played Black Widow across several films, reports ‘Variety’.

“I remember being on ‘Ultron’ and seeing how she was with the crew,” Olsen shared.

“I was just amazed by her ease and her comfort and how she includes the crew in everything, and how she makes everyone part of the team and feel excited to come to work. And I’ve really taken that into my life since then.”

Olsen said that it’s a little “shocking” to now be in the position of a pseudo-mentor, but “it’s amazing that we’ve gone through (iterations of the MCU) and it’s been this long, that now we have these different ages of women”.

Entertainment

PM Modi extends birthday greetings to Tamil Nadu CM Vijay; wishes him long, healthy life

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New Delhi, June 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended birthday greetings to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, wishing him a long and healthy life.

PM Modi took to social media ‘X’ and said, “Birthday greetings to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru C. Joseph Vijay Ji. I pray for his long and healthy life.”

Born on June 22, 1974, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, Vijay is an actor-turned-politician who currently serves as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Before entering politics, he was one of the most successful and influential stars of Tamil cinema and was popularly known among fans as ‘Thalapathy (Leader)’.

Vijay, whose full name is Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, is the son of film-maker S.A. Chandrasekhar and singer Shoba Chandrasekhar. He began his acting career as a child artist in the film ‘Vetri’ (1984), directed by his father, before emerging as a leading star in the Tamil film industry.

Over the years, Vijay established himself as one of the biggest names in South Indian cinema. Films such as ‘Kushi’, ‘Thirumalai’, ‘Ghilli’, ‘Pokkiri’, and ‘Sarkar’ significantly contributed to his popularity. While he initially gained recognition for romantic roles, he later reinvented himself as an action star known for portraying characters fighting for social and political justice.

His immense popularity among fans often drew comparisons with legendary Tamil actors who successfully transitioned into politics. Political themes in several of his films were widely viewed as indicators of his future political ambitions.

In 2024, Vijay formally entered politics by launching the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The party made its electoral debut in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and emerged as the single-largest party in the state, winning 108 of the 234 seats.

To secure a governing majority, TVK allied with the Indian National Congress and other parties. Vijay contested and won from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies. Following the election, he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026.

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Bollywood

Delhi HC adjourns Salman Khan’s plea against release of ‘Kala Hiran’ till July 1

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New Delhi, June 19: The Delhi High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s plea seeking to restrain the release of the proposed film “Kala Hiran”, without granting any interim relief at this stage.

A vacation Bench of Justice Madhu Jain directed that a complete copy of the plaint and accompanying documents be supplied to the respondent filmmaker and listed the matter for hearing on July 1.

During the hearing, Salman Khan’s counsel, advocate Nizam Pasha, submitted that the film is purportedly based on the actor’s life and has been produced without his consent.

While pressing for interim relief, Pasha also informed the high court that the poster and trailer of the film had already been released, though the release date of the movie is yet to be announced.

Opposing the plea for urgent relief, counsel appearing for the filmmakers submitted that they had not been served the complete set of documents in the case.

“On Wednesday, they served me only a copy of the application, not the plaint,” the counsel argued, adding that the filmmakers were receiving death threats over the project and that an FIR had already been lodged.

After hearing the parties, the Delhi High Court directed Salman Khan to furnish the complete set of documents, including the plaint, to the respondent and fixed the matter for arguments on July 1. Shortly thereafter, the actor’s counsel mentioned the matter again and contended that the filmmakers had already been served, seeking an earlier hearing date.

However, Justice Jain observed that the matter had already been listed in July and declined to advance the hearing.

The dispute reached the Delhi High Court days after Salman Khan’s legal team issued a notice to the makers of “Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy”, asking them to halt the release of the film and remove all promotional material, including posters and publicity content.

Directed by Bharat S. Shrinet and produced by Amit Jani, the film is inspired by the blackbuck poaching case involving Salman Khan and also portrays his alleged rivalry with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The makers have described it as a blend of courtroom drama and crime thriller mounted on an international scale.

The controversy surrounding the film has intensified in recent days, with producer Jani alleging that he has been receiving death threats ahead of the movie’s release. On June 18, Jani claimed that a Pakistani terrorist had threatened him with a drone and grenade attack over the film and said that he had informed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Rajasthan Police, and CRPF officials. Subsequently, Jani alleged that he received a second death threat within 24 hours.

In a complaint lodged with police in Jodhpur, he claimed that an unidentified caller, identifying himself as a Salman Khan fan, threatened to kill him within three days. The producer urged authorities to immediately register a case and arrest the accused.

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Bollywood

AICWA demands high-level investigation into actor Sanchita Ugale’s suicide

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Mumbai, June 15: The sudden demise of actress Sanchita Ugale has left the entire television industry in a state of shock.

All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta has now urged the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, to order a high-level inquiry into the death of Sanchita Ugale.

AICWA has requested an in-depth investigation into every possible angle of the case to ensure justice to the deceased and his family.

An official statement shared by the Association read, “Her untimely departure has left her family shattered and the entire Indian film industry mourning the loss of a young talent whose memories will live on forever.”

“Every life is precious. The truth behind this tragic incident must come out, and the family of Sanchita Ugale deserves nothing less than a fair, impartial, and thorough investigation. AICWA urges the authorities to leave no stone unturned and to ensure that all aspects of this case are examined with complete transparency,” they further shared

AICWA has further urged the Government of Maharashtra and the concerned authorities to establish a dedicated committee to examine the increasing number of deaths and mental health-related crises being reported within the entertainment industry.

Additionally, they have also asked to review the safety, well-being, and support systems available to the artists.

“In recent years, the Indian entertainment industry has witnessed several deaths and alleged suicide cases. In many instances, questions raised by family members, colleagues, and the public have remained unanswered. Therefore, it is essential that investigators examine all available evidence, circumstances, and possible angles in this case with complete transparency,” the statement further read.

According to police reports, Sanchita Ugale died by suicide at her residence in Sai Santoshi Building, in Nalasopara East, Mumbai. The unfortunate incident took place on June 14 between 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm.

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