Entertainment
Lights, camera, little action: ‘Bell Bottom’, ‘Chehre’ yet to pull crowds

Two back-to-back big releases — Akshay Kumar’s ‘Bell Bottom’ and the Amitabh Bachchan star vehicle, ‘Chehre’, both well-received by critics — may have buoyed the spirits of film exhibitors, but their box-office collections have been far from encouraging.
‘Bell Bottom’, which was released on August 19, according to trade analysts, has grossed Rs 18.55 crore till date. Compare this with the Rs 64.99 crore collected in its opening weekend by ‘Good Newzz’ (with Diljit Dosanjh), Akshay’s last film before the first nationwide Covid-19 lockdown. And that was far less than the extended opening weekend earnings — Rs 97.56 crore — of the other big 2019 film, ‘Mission Mangal’.
A number of factors have contributed to this significant drop in earnings: cinema theatres are still under lockdown in Mumbai and Pune, depriving Bollywood of 25 per cent of its revenues; the requirement in a number of malls for patrons to produce double vaccination certificates before being allowed in, which is affecting attendance in theatres located in malls; and, significantly, the closure of 1,500 single screens across India because of the pandemic-induced economic stress.
On ‘Chehre’, which opened on Friday, the analysts were not very bullish about box-office figures. Karan Taurani of Elara Capital predicted that it would make a “lifetime collection” of Rs 5-6 crore because of its “niche” storyline that only a “discerning audience” would appreciate.
Taurani also pointed out that collections have been low because of “very low occupancy in morning shows and night shows not being allowed”. He also blamed the low occupancies forced by social distancing norms being in force. Also, over the last eight days, barring this past Sunday, which did see a spike in Delhi as a result of Raksha Bandhan festivities, attendance in theatres was at an all-time low across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Exhibitors, however, are cautiously optimistic about their business coming back to life, even if partially, because of ‘Bell Bottom’ and ‘Chehre’.
Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Limited, said in a conversation with IANS: “Post the reopening of cinemas after the second wave, ‘Bell Bottom’ was the first big Bollywood movie to have hit the big screen. And it has done reasonably well within the restrictions in capacity, show limitations and weekend closures.”
He also emphasised the lockdown still in place for cinema theatres in “major markets such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.”
The sentiment was share by Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure.
Speaking to IANS, he said: “We have always said that the industry needed a couple of mass entertainers to kick off the recovery process, and we are glad that these have arrive and are doing phenomenally well, despite the restrictions.”
“We positively hope that the momentum built by the fantastic response to ‘Bell Bottom’ in the week gone by, and the hype around ‘Chehre’, would mark the onset of our revival journey.”
For Dutta, more than the initial numbers, it is the momentum that matters. He said to IANS: “We are encouraged by the release of the long-awaited ‘Chehre’ today. Hope this will encourage producers from the Bollywood fraternity to announce their big films for theatrical release and get movie-goers back to cinemas.”
Entertainment
‘Strong Women Lift Each Other…’: Bipasha Basu REACTS To Mrunal Thakur’s Old Video Calling Her ‘Manly With Muscles’

Actress Bipasha Basu has reacted to an old video of Mrunal Thakur from her Kumkum Bhagya days, now going viral, in which Thakur called Basu ‘manly with muscles’ and claimed she was ‘better’ than her. The body-shaming remarks have sparked major controversy, with many slamming Thakur for her comments.
Bipasha Basu Reacts To Mrunal Thakur Calling Her ‘Manly’
On Wednesday (August 13), Bipasha took to social media to share a quote that read, ‘Strong women lift each other up.’ Along with it, the actress penned a note that read: “Get those muscles beautiful ladies, we should be strong. Muscles help you attain, good physical and mental health forever! Bust the age old thought process that women should not look strong or be physically strong.”
Mrunal Thakur has not yet responded to the backlash surrounding her old video.
What Mrunal Thakur Said?
In the resurfaced clip, Mrunal can be seen chatting with her Kumkum Bhagya co-star Arjit about fitness, where Arjit playfully dares her to do a headstand, to which she jokingly replies that he could sit while she balanced on her head.
When he then challenges her to do push-ups, the actress says that he might be interested in marrying a strong, muscular woman, before remarking, “Do you want to marry a girl who is manly with muscles? Go marry Bipasha.” Further, she added, “Listen, I am far better than Bipasha.”
Mrunal Thakur, Dhanush’s Relationship
Meanwhile, Mrunal has also been making headlines for her alleged relationship with Tamil star Dhanush. The actress has now broken her silence on the rumours, clarifying that Dhanush is ‘just a good friend.’
During an interview with Only Kollywood, Mrunal was quizzed about her newfound closeness with Dhanush and that is when she finally decided to respond to it. “Dhanush is just a good friend to me,” she said.
Entertainment
Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Warns Bollywood After Canada Café Attack, Targeting Kapil Sharma Over Salman Khan

Mumbai: The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has escalated its threats following a second round of gunfire at comedian Kapil Sharma’s café, “Caps Café,” in Surrey, Canada. On Friday, the gang released an audio clip allegedly from Bishnoi’s close aide, Harry Boxer, claiming responsibility for the attack and linking it to Bollywood star Salman Khan’s appearance on the opening episode of Sharma’s Netflix show.
The incident occurred on Thursday when assailants fired at least 25 rounds at the café. The gang asserts the attack was in direct retaliation for Kapil Sharma inviting Salman Khan to launch “The Great Indian Kapil Show” Season 2.
In the menacing audio, Boxer warns: “Whoever works with Salman Khan will be finished by the Bishnoi gang — they will be killed.” He declared there would be no further warnings, stating that next time “bullets will be fired straight at the chest.” The message also vowed to unleash unprecedented chaos in Mumbai, specifically naming producers, directors, and actors as potential targets. “Anyone collaborating with Salman Khan will be responsible for their own death,” the voice threatened.
Following the release of the clip, Mumbai Police moved into high alert. The Crime Branch has begun investigating the recording while increasing security at Kapil Sharma’s Oshiwara residence. Multiple officers have been deployed outside his apartment complex, with regular patrols in the area. CCTV footage from the vicinity is being reviewed for suspicious movements.
Sources confirmed Crime Branch officers visited Sharma’s home on Friday to question him about the threats. This was not their first interaction with the comedian. After the café was targeted for the first time in July, police had asked Sharma whether he had received extortion calls or threats from the Bishnoi gang — a claim he had denied at the time.
The second attack, combined with the new audio warning, has prompted authorities to investigate whether Bishnoi gang members have been conducting surveillance near Sharma’s home or shooting locations. Sources suggest that Sharma has now filed a formal complaint with local police, although he has not made a public statement.
The Bishnoi gang had also posted on social media on Thursday, taking responsibility for the Surrey shooting hours before the audio surfaced.
Kapil Sharma remains one of India’s most prominent entertainers. Host of the hugely popular The Kapil Sharma Show and its Netflix spin-off The Great Indian Kapil Show, he is regarded as the country’s highest-paid Hindi comedian. He first rose to fame in 2007 after winning The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 3, later making his Bollywood debut with Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015), followed by Firangi (2017) and Zwigato (2023).
Entertainment
Neeharika Roy joins &TV’s supernatural comedy Gharwali Pedwali as Savi!

&TV’s Gharwali Pedwali is all set to deliver a fun-filled rollercoaster of laughter, spooky surprises and emotions. Adding to the charm of this refreshing concept is the energetic and talented Neeharika Roy , who will portray the role of Savi , a spirited, bold, and fashion-forward Gen Z girl. As the ‘Gharwali’ in this unusual love triangle, her presence promises to shake things up in the most unexpected ways.
With a mix of sass and sweetness, Neeharika is ready to leave a lasting impression. Speaking about her role as Savi, Neeharika Roy shares, “Savi is not just a character; she is a whole vibe. She represents today’s young, confident, and independent girls who are not afraid to take charge of their lives. I love how unapologetically bold and expressive she is, breaking the typical mould of female characters on television. What makes Savi’s character stand out, is her unique blend of a modern outlook, emotional maturity, and a subtle trace of small-town grace. I enjoy fun banter and spontaneous madness in real life, too, so stepping into Savi’s shoes feels very natural. It is a role that feels both exciting and meaningful to me.”
Excited about the show, the actress adds, “What makes Gharwali Pedwali so exciting for me is how unpredictably entertaining the entire concept is. It is not your typical romantic or daily soap setup; it brings together a high-spirited love triangle, a mysterious ghost, and plenty of humorous confusion. The title may sound simple at first, but once the characters start unfolding, you realise how cleverly it plays into the storyline. There is a constant tug of war between the living and the supernatural. Playing the ‘Gharwali’ opposite a ‘Pedwali’ creates an interesting dynamic that I cannot wait to explore on screen.”
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