Bollywood
‘Match Fixing – The Nation at Stake’: A Gripping Political Thriller That Unravels Dark Truths
Director: Kedaar Gaekwad , Producer: Pallavi Gurjar, Cast: Vineet Kumar Singh, Anuja Sathe, Manoj Joshi, Raj Arjun, Shataf Figar, Lalit Parimoo and Kishore Kadam, Duration: 2h26m, Rating: 4 stars.
‘Match Fixing – The Nation at Stake’ is based on a book ‘The Game Behind Saffron Terror’ written by an ex-army officer, Col. Kanwar Khatana. This gripping yet controversial political thriller unfolds the intricate web of Indo-Pak politics. The film dramatizes a series of devastating terror attacks that shook India between 2004 and 2008, culminating in the catastrophic 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The opening scenes of the film, pack a punch, drawing viewers into a complex web of conspiracies and parallel plots. As the story unfolds, closed-door meetings between Indian and Pakistani politicians and leaders reveal a shocking agenda – to malign the reputation of Hindus by concocting the term “Saffron Terror” for the sake of vote-bank politics.
The film’s first half masterfully sets the tone, weaving together multiple subplots in India and Pakistan, while introducing the protagonist who is an undercover army officer from intelligence. He has become a thorn in the flesh of those who are hell bent on spreading the false narrative of Saffron Terror. The ominous Samjhauta Express and Malegoan blasts serve as bookends to this half.
As the narrative unfolds, the second half becomes increasingly engrossing, with the antagonists meticulously planning their final, devastating attack. The culmination is expertly handled as the protagonist hands are tied. All of this leads to a thought-provoking and impactful conclusion that lingers long after the credits roll, leaving audiences to ponder and deliberate.
The producer Pallavi Gurjar has not only chosen an extremely powerful subject but also facilitated high production values to the film, bringing the necessary gravitas to this important subject.
The film’s creative brilliance is largely attributed to Director and DOP Kedaar Gaekwad, whose storytelling seamlessly brings together political intrigue, complex characters, and real-life events. His cinematography is a visual treat, making the film an unforgettable viewing experience.
Vineet Kumar Singh’s portrayal of Col. Avinash Patwardhan – the protagonist is pitch perfect. After Mukkabaaz and Gangs of Wasseypur, Vineet gives one of the finest performances of his career. Vineet shines with his remarkable portrayal, effortlessly transitioning between roles as an undercover agent, army officer, and devoted family man, showcasing his impressive range and versatility as an actor.
Vineet is ably supported by an ensemble cast of distinguished actors. Anuja Sathe, as his wife, plays the perfect counterbalance with her solid yet restrained performance.
Veteran actors Manoj Joshi and Kishore Kadam deliver standout performances, bringing to life complex and unconventional characters with convincing authenticity and depth.
Shataf Figar’s towering personality, Elena Tutteja’s uncanny resemblance, Ramanjit Kaur’s intensity and Lalit Parimoo’s effortlessness are noteworthy.
The surprise package of the film is Raj Arjun. His outstanding portrayal of a Pakistani Colonel is nuanced and multifaceted. He masterfully provides justification and motivation to his character’s actions, avoiding stereotypes with remarkable subtlety.
The film’s location and production design teams have meticulously recreated the era with remarkable accuracy. The makers have ensured authenticity, accurately replicating army protocols with attention to detail in every frame.
Anuj S. Mehta’s exceptional screenplay weaves a riveting narrative, expertly intertwining multiple plot threads, characters, and layers. Sameer Garud’s razor-sharp dialogue and incisive character interactions. The writing team pack a lasting punch, lingering in the viewer’s mind long after the credits roll.
Ashish Mhatre’s crafts a thrilling narrative with his sharp editing, skillfully balancing tension and comprehension of such a complex subject. Thankfully the film never digresses into unnecessary subplots and largely remains focused to the central plot.
Rimi Dhar has composed two songs for the film. While the first is an electrifying anthem sung by Daler Mehendi, the second is a melodious composition which takes the story forward in flashback. Hrishi Girdhar’s background score is a standout, enhancing each scene.
‘Match Fixing – The Nation’ at Stake is a must watch for those who love intense political thrillers which are entangled in terrorism and conspiracy theories.
Bollywood
Anupam Kher feted by State of Ohio for his four-decade journey in cinema

Mumbai, Sep 21: Veteran Bollywood star Anupam Kher has been honoured with a special proclamation by the State of Ohio, recognising his over four-decade journey in cinema and the live stage performance of Jaane Pehchaane Anjaane.
Anupam took to Instagram, where he shared a picture of himself with the special proclamation by the State of Ohio and expressed gratitude to Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel for the honour, saying he accepted it with “immense pride and humility.”
He wrote in the caption section: “DEEPLY HONOURED AND HUMBLED! It is an extraordinary feeling to receive this special proclamation from the State of Ohio, recognising my journey of more than four decades in cinema and our live stage performance of “Jaane Pehchaane Anjaane” in Columbus.”
“My heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Governor of Ohio, Mr. Mike DeWine, and Lieutenant Governor Mr. Jim Tressel, for this wonderful honour. I accept it with immense pride and humility!”
The actor concluded by saying: “Not only for myself, but also with gratitude to the Indian film industry, which has given me my identity, and to the brilliant cast and crew of #JaanePehchaaneAnjane, whose passion and dedication make every performance so special.”
“To be welcomed and recognised in this manner, so far away from home, is deeply moving. Thank you, Ohio, for this unforgettable honour. Jai Hind!”
Anupam made his acting debut with Mahesh Bhatt-directed drama film Saaransh in 1984. Since then, he has worked in a motley of films including Karma, Tezaab, Chaalbaaz, Vijay, Ram Lakhan, Daddy, Saudagar, Dil, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Special 26, Uunchai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, among many others.
He was last seen in the film Tanvi The Great. The film follows Tanvi Raina, a 21-year-old woman on the autism spectrum, who lives with her mother Vidya and grandfather Colonel Pratap Raina.
Inspired by her deceased father, an Indian Army officer who dreamed of saluting the flag at Siachen Glacier, Tanvi becomes determined to follow in his footsteps and join the army to fulfill his dream herself.
Bollywood
Kriti Sanon crosses pottery art off her bucket list: Make today your ‘Day One’

Mumbai, Sep 20: Actress Kriti Sanon crossed off another thing on her bucket list, something she had been wanting to learn for years. The ‘Mimi’ actress was seen working on her pottery skills in her latest post on Instagram.
Expressing her excitement about learning a new skill, Kriti penned on the photo-sharing app, “That thing you’ve been wanted to do or learn for years, the one that always made it to your “Things I wanna do this year” list but you never made time for it.. Instead of saying “One day”, yet again, make today your “Day One” ! One of the things on my list was Pottery! The joy of learning a new skill.. its something else! (sic).”
The ‘Cocktail 2’ actress ended her post saying that she, “love being a Work In Progress!”.
Kriti loves to constantly push herself out of her comfort zone and try out new things.
In 2023, she tried her hand at skydiving, ticking off another thing on her bucket list.
She went to Dubai with her sister Nupur Sanon, where the two sisters decided to try skydiving.
Sharing her experience with the netizens, Kriti uploaded a video on her official handle. The clip began with her saying, “Yeah. Butterflies in stomach right now.” After this, the ‘Luka Chuppi’ actress enjoyed her dive in the sky.
Asked how she felt, Kriti said, “Great! This is a like a free bird.”
The adrenaline-filled video was captioned, “Jumping out of my comfort zone! Quite literally!! Wat an incredible experience!! Ticking off my bucket list #SkyDiving.”
Work-wise, Kriti last graced the big screen in Homi Adajania’s “Cocktail 2”, co-starring Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.
Released in the cinema halls on 19 June 2026, the sequel turned out to be a moderate commercial success at the ticket counters.
Bollywood
When Jaya Bachchan talked about roles for older women in Bollywood

Mumbai, Sep 20: Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan once got candid with filmmaker Karan Johar about the kind of roles offered to older women in Bollywood during her appearance on the popular chat show, ‘Koffee With Karan’.
During the discussion about whether women still get substantial roles as they grow older, Jaya Bachchan shared that she does not mind playing a small part, as long as her character has a purpose and contributes to the story.
KJo said, “I think in Hollywood, there are still roles offered to women.”
To this, Jaya Bachchan reacted, saying, “Not really. I think you know what is important is that I do accept the fact that we are much older.”
She went on to explain, “Yeah. So obviously maybe older people don’t have much to do in life. I don’t know. I mean, I think we are doing a lot more than our children really. Even if it’s a small role, it must have something. There should be a character. Some kind of depth.
Karan pitched in, “Some reason for you to exist within the framework”.
“I don’t mind a small role, but it has to contribute,” concluded Jaya Bachchan.
Talking about Jaya Bachchan’s career trajectory, she first appeared on the screen as a teenager in Satyajit Ray’s Bengali film ‘Mahanagar’ in 1963.
In 1971, she made her Bollywood debut as an adult with Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Guddi’, in which she was seen as a schoolgirl infatuated with film star Dharmendra, who played himself in the drama.
After this, she went on to be a part of several noteworthy projects such as ‘Uphaar (1971)’, ‘Koshish (1972)’, ‘Zanjeer (1973)’, ‘Abhimaan (1973)’, ‘Kora Kagaz (1974)’, ‘Chupke Chupke (1975)’, ‘Mili (1975)’, ‘Sholay (1975), and ‘Silsila (1981)’.
Jaya Bachchan took a 17-year-long break from films after Silsila (1981), following her marriage to Amitabh Bachchan in 1973 to focus on her family.
She returned to films in 1998 with Govind Nihalani’s critically acclaimed film ‘Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa’.
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