Posts

EXCLUSIVE: Sonu Nigam remembers his iconic song ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ as ISAMRA distributes WHOPPING Rs. 100 cr in royalties to 26,000 singers; Anup Jalota gets emotional; Sanjay Tandon recalls journey from Rs. 51,000 to 100 cr

It was a joyous occasion for ISAMRA (Indian Singers And Musicians Rights Association) recently as they announced that they have distributed Rs. 100 crore in royalties to 26,000 singers and musicians. Bollywood Hungama spoke exclusively to the ones who fought bravely for the rights of the singers – the legendary Sonu Nigam and Anup Jalota and ISAMRA founder and MD, Sanjay Tandon. Sonu Nigam said, “It feels like a quiet victory, not loud, not dramatic, but deeply meaningful. For years, the voice created value but did not always receive its share of that value. Today feels like a moment of correction. Not just for me, but for every singer who has given their soul to a song. It is a sense of dignity returning. The system has finally begun to listen.” In June 2024, Sanjay Tandon revealed that ISAMRA had distributed its first royalty, Rs. 51,000, for the song ‘Lag Jaa Gale’ (Woh Kaun Thi; 1964). Explaining the journey from Rs. 51,000 to Rs. 100 crores, he replied, “That first royalty of Rs...

Ranveer Singh starrer Pralay is not an adaptation, reveals Hansal Mehta

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has opened up about his upcoming project Pralay, starring Ranveer Singh. The film, which has been generating considerable curiosity, is set to explore a large-scale post-apocalyptic world—an idea that, according to Mehta, has been in development for quite some time. Speaking about the origins of the project to The Hollywood Reporter, Mehta revealed that the concept was initially developed by filmmaker Jai Mehta, who had been working on it independently before Ranveer Singh came on board. "Jai had been working on this idea for a long time." He further explained how the collaboration took shape once Ranveer expressed interest in the concept, "When Ranveer saw his work, he reached out to him and then Jai pitched it to him. Once Ranveer said he liked the idea, we invested in developing it-helping Jai create the world he wants to present in the film." Detailing the scale and ambition of Pralay, Mehta described it as a genre-defining project for I...

Adivi Sesh credits Akshay Kumar’s Pad Man for Dacoit’s Hindi-Telugu strategy: "It was a Tamil story and yet it was set in Madhya Pradesh"

Mrunal Thakur, Adivi Sesh, Anurag Kashyap and Zayn Marie Khan attended the trailer launch of the Hindi version of their film Dacoit: Ek Prem Katha in Mumbai. The film is not dubbed in Hindi and has been simultaneously filmed in Telugu as well as Hindi. Adivi Sesh explained the reason behind it and he remembered the Akshay Kumar-starrer Pad Man (2018), based on the incredible life of Arunachalam Muruganantham. Adivi Sesh began by saying, “In the US, people wear black dresses to a funeral. Log chashme laga ke silently rote hai. But in India, we wear white and we cry loudly while mourning. So, it’s a cultural thing and there are also cultural nuances. That’s how we tweaked the song ‘Chichubuddi’ to ‘Touch Buddy’ for the Hindi audience. The Hindi song blended the Bhojpuri flavour of Pawan Singh and the urban flavour of Jonita Gandhi. That’s an example of things we did on a very fun, practical way.” He added, “As for the story, there was a lovely film I saw, Pad Man. I was intrigued by th...

Rajkummar Rao turns ‘Kanjoos’ in Netflix’s Toaster trailer: One toaster sparks absolute chaos in this Sanya Malhotra starrer

Streaming giant Netflix has unveiled the trailer of its upcoming dark comedy Toaster, offering a glimpse into a hilariously chaotic world where one man’s obsession with saving money leads to unforeseen consequences. Headlined by Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra, the film is set to premiere on April 15. Directed by Vivek Das Chaudhary and produced by Patralekhaa under Kampa Film, Toaster revolves around Ramakant, a man who takes frugality to extreme levels. The trailer introduces Rajkummar Rao’s character as an unapologetic miser who believes that every rupee saved is a triumph. However, his rigid mindset leads him into a bizarre situation when a toaster he had gifted at a wedding ends up being wasted. What begins as a simple attempt to retrieve the appliance soon escalates into a chain of increasingly messy and chaotic events. Ramakant’s determination not to let go of something he has spent money on drags not only himself but also those around him into a whirlwind of confusion and un...

Rashmika Mandanna returns to Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026; is all set to shine again on global stage in Tokyo

Rashmika Mandanna is set to make another global appearance as she returns as a presenter at the 10th edition of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. The ceremony is scheduled to be held on May 23, 2026, at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa, marking her second stint at the prestigious event. The actress had previously created history in 2024 by becoming the first Indian celebrity to present an award at the ceremony. Her return this year further highlights her growing global presence and the increasing connection between Indian audiences and international entertainment platforms. Rashmika took to her Instagram stories, where she shared this announcement along with the caption, "Back to Japan. To celebrate the incredible people behind anime". The Anime Awards are among the most prominent celebrations of Japanese animation, recognising excellence across a wide range of categories. Winners are decided through a combination of jury evaluation and fan votes from across the world. This...

Arjun Rampal starrer Billionaire sparks speculation: Is he playing Vijay Mallya or Lalit Modi in Hansal Mehta’s next?

Following the success of Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar The Revenge, Arjun Rampal is gearing up for his next major project, an upcoming OTT series titled Billionaire. Helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta, the show has already generated significant curiosity, particularly around the character Rampal is set to portray. Positioned as an intense and layered story about a powerful business tycoon, Billionaire is expected to explore themes of ambition, influence, and the price of success. While the makers have remained tight-lipped about specific plot details, the premise alone has sparked widespread speculation about whether the narrative draws inspiration from real-life figures. Among the names frequently being discussed is that of Vijay Mallya. Known for his flamboyant lifestyle and once being dubbed the “King of Good Times,” Mallya’s rise in the business world and subsequent controversies make his story a compelling reference point for a screen adaptation. His journey—from building a ...

EXCLUSIVE: Namit Malhotra rejects historic Rs. 700 crore OTT bid for Ranbir Kapoor-Yash’s Ramayana; eyes a staggering Rs. 1000 crore deal

Namit Malhotra is turning out to be a brave producer, as he has gone all out to bring the epic tale of history Ramayana, to the big screen. The teaser dropped a day back, and it reflects the grandeur of the film with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram. With a production budget of Rs. 4000 crores for the two films combined, the stakes are at an all-time high, and yet Namit is backing his vision with the utmost conviction. Instead of derisking the film by selling digital, satellite and music rights, Namit is holding it all close to his chest. "Namit received an offer of Rs. 700 crores for both the films put together, which is the highest ever by a margin for an Indian Film. But he took no time to reject the offer. Given the mammoth cost of Rs. 4000 crore, Namit and his team feel that Ramayana deserves more as it's a legacy film that will speak to generations ahead. He is expecting Rs. 1000 crore deal from OTT players, leaving Rs. 3000 crores to be recovered from other sources, including...