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
When Katrina Kaif revealed her biggest learnings from her relationships

Mumbai, Oct 9: Actress Katrina Kaif opened up about what has been the biggest learning from her relationships over the years.
As she was interacting with host and filmmaker Karan Johar during the chat show, ‘Koffee With Karan season 6’, she shared that she had realized over the years that we should not depend on anyone else for our happiness.
Katrina added that, according to her, the best kind of relationships are those where there is no dependence but only admiration, respect, and companionship.
The ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ actress said, “I had this discussion, not long back, with a few friends. They felt most women need men or it’s necessary to have a man. I really don’t think that’s true for everyone. I can’t speak for women as a collective, but it’s definitely not true for me being single. I’m becoming comfortable with who I am, which I don’t think I was for a large part of my life because you somehow judge yourself based on how much love or attention you get from your partner. When your relationship is amazing, you feel great about yourself. Your relationship suffers a little bit; your self-esteem and image take a beating, which is not a good thing.”
Revealing her idea of what a perfect relationship looks like, she added, “My biggest learning from my relationships is, ‘Nobody else is responsible for your happiness.’ You shouldn’t give away your power because you are burdening that person with responsibility. Nobody can take that responsibility for a long period of time. At some point they are going to let you down, or you let them down, and that’s when the relationship suffers. The most beautiful kind of love is when neither of you need each other. There’s no great dependence on the other person, there’s admiration, respect, companionship, and there’s a space of ease between you.”
Katrina is now happily married to actor Vicky Kaushal, and the two even have a son together, Vihaan.
Bollywood
Ashish Vidyarthi revisits fond memories with Nana Patekar, shares video of actor making an omelette

Mumbai, Oct 9: Actor Ashish Vidyarthi revisited fond memories with veteran actor Nana Patekar as he shared a throwback video showing the latter showcasing his culinary skills.
Taking to Instagram, the ‘Bichhoo’ actor shared the video, offering a glimpse into the moments they spent together. Along with the clip, he penned a heartfelt note remembering the time spent with the late actor. “Memories of some wonderful time spent together…Nana,” he wrote.
The video captures Nana Patekar in a relaxed setting as he prepares an omelette, offering a glimpse of the veteran actor beyond his on-screen persona. The video shows Ashish Vidyarthi enjoying the omelette and French toast prepared by Nana Patekar. Relishing the dish, Ashish said, “Nana made this, and it is amazing. Wow!” The video also captures a candid moment when Nana Patekar takes out some medicine and offers it to Ashish Vidyarthi, giving viewers another glimpse into their time together.
Ashish Vidyarthi and Nana Patekar have shared screen space in several films over the years, including Mahesh Manjrekar’s Yeshwant, followed by “Yugpurush,” directed by Partho Ghosh, and Manoj Kumar’s ensemble drama “Jai Hind.” The two actors are also associated with the crime drama “The Confession of Mary.”
Ashish and Nana share a friendly bond that extends beyond their professional association.
Several Bollywood celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Hema Malini, have expressed their condolences following the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar. Raj Babbar, Anupam Kher, Rohit Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi also remembered the actor, reflecting on his remarkable body of work and his enduring impact on Indian cinema.
The Padma Shri recipient passed away on October 8, 2026, aged 75. As per reports, he was found unconscious at his Goa residence after complaining of severe chest discomfort.
Bollywood
‘Welcome’ director Anees Bazmee requests privacy after Nana Patekar demise, says ‘not in a condition to talk’

Mumbai, Oct 8: Filmmaker Anees Bazmee has requested the media to give him some time to process the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar.
The two shared a memorable professional association through the iconic movie Welcome, where Bazmee directed Patekar in the role of the iconic Uday Shetty.
Following the actor’s death, the director shared a note saying that he was deeply saddened and was currently not in a condition to speak about the loss.
Sharing a message on his social media account, he addressed his media friends and wrote, “To all my media friends, I’m really sorry, but I’m not in a condition to talk right now. I’m deeply saddened and still unable to process what has happened. Please give me some time. I genuinely don’t have the words or the state of mind to say anything at the moment. This is an unbearable loss and an unbearable pain for me and for all of us. I hope you understand.
Regards, Anees Bazmee.”
Talking about Anees Bazmee and Nana Patekar, they came together for the 2007 comedy Welcome, which went on to become one of Hindi cinema’s most beloved comedies.
Nana Patekar played Uday Shankar Shetty, a feared underworld don who, despite his intimidating persona, is deeply concerned about finding a suitable husband for his sister Sanjana, played by Katrina Kaif.
Anees Bazmee, in an old interview had recalled how he convinced Nana Patekar, an actor predominantly known for intense dramatic performances, to take up a comedy role.
He said he believed the legendary actor would be exceptional at comedy. Nana Patekar eventually agreed after reading the script, famously telling Anees Bazmee that he was like “kachhi mitti” and could be moulded by the director.
The collaboration resulted in one of Nana Patekar’s most memorable comic performances. His chemistry with Anil Kapoor, who played Majnu Bhai, became a major highlight of the film.
Nana Patekar’s Uday Shetty became particularly popular for his fine acting and dialogue delivery. The now-iconic “Control Uday, control” became one of the film’s most recognisable lines and turned into a popular meme.
Another unforgettable moment was Uday’s vegetable-selling sequence, with the dialogue “Aloo le lo, kaanda le lo…”, followed by his ““Subah se na ek aloo bika hai, na bika hai aadha kanda!”, ” went on to become a cult moment.
Earlier, Akshay Kumar, who shared screen space with the legendary actor in Welcome and later reunited with him in Housefull 5, also paid an emotional tribute.
For the uninitiated, Nana Patekar passed away on October 8, 2026, at the age of 75, after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa.
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