Entertainment

Bhaijan’s Eid release ‘Sikandar,’ the movie, has been making a buzz right from the word go! Released as an Eid treat to Salman Khan fans, the movie on its first day, has seen so much action both in and out of the theatres. On the one hand, the fans came up with the most amazing ways to celebrate the film, on the other hand, the AR Murugadoss directorial faced some challenges.
Here’s a brief on everything you need to know about ‘Sikandar’ day 1

Sikandar leaked online

They say the internet has made things easier, it has offered the utmost comfort to people. However, nothing comes without a cost. The World Wide Web also serves as a free platform for several malpractices, and Salman Khan’s ‘Sikandar’ fell prey to the same. Within ours of its release, the reports of the movie being leaked online surfaced. Reportedly, it was leaked across 600 websites.
It disappointed everyone who is in the business of filmmaking and appreciates the art. Speaking about the online leak, Komal Nahta, in his conversation with ANI said, “Last night when I was in the trade, I discovered the film had already been leaked. But I didn’t tweet about it right away because I wanted to be 100 per cent sure. Sometimes only a few scenes are leaked, and if you call it a full leak, it can cause unnecessary panic.”
According to him, the leak can impact the box office performance of the movie.

Sikandar crosses the Rs. 20 crore mark on its 1st day

The online leak did pose a threat, but Salman Khan’s dedicated fan army made sure that the movie doesn’t fall flat at the box office. According to the early estimates of Sacnilk, ‘Sikandar’ made Rs.21.96 crore on its first day across all languages.

Mixed reactions on Twitter

On the one hand, where several netizens celebrated the release of ‘Sikandar’ as a festival, others criticized the movie and went as raw with their words as possible.
“Totally flop movie Sikandar. No story, No Screenplay, no music, no lyrics, no choreography, no action, and one more flop added to the list,” wrote a user.

Another post read, “I am watching #Sikandar in a packed hall right now and I believe many cinemas will be going housefull today. All of us who are watching this film deserve an apology from Salman Khan for putting us into so much misery and torture.🙏”
On the other hand, as mentioned, some celebrated Salman and the movie alike.
“Sikandar totally blows Salman bhai’s last few films out of the water; that entrance was insane! It’s got action, emotions, and the songs are pretty good too (sic),” wrote a fan.

Another fan shared a post saying, “Crowd goes crazy on Megastar #SalmanKhan entry scene in #Sikandar movie. Theatre Turn Into Stadium 🔥🔥🔥”
The release of ‘Sikandar’ has been an exciting journey filled with ups and downs. Despite facing significant challenges with piracy before its launch, the film has performed impressively at the box office, bolstered by the loyal support of Salman Khan’s fans. As viewers continue to fill the theaters, ‘Sikandar’ embodies the strength and charm of Bollywood films.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan recently attended a family wedding, and a picture from the event is making waves on social media. In the snap, the actress looks absolutely gorgeous as someone clicks a selfie with her.

Dressed in a stunning red outfit, Aishwarya is pure elegance. Her makeup and jewellery? Totally on point. Fans can’t get enough of her effortless charm at the celebration.

A fan page shared the image on Instagram with the caption, “Queen Aishwarya was spotted at her family’s wedding.”

A few days ago, rumours swirled that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s car was hit by a BEST bus in Mumbai on March 26, after a paparazzo shared a video on Instagram. The clip left the actress’ fans worried about her safety.

According to The Free Press Journal, the minor collision happened near Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow on Juhu Tara Road. Things took a turn when a bouncer allegedly slapped the bus driver, leading to a brief scuffle. However, the bungalow staff later apologised, and the driver opted not to involve the police.

Meanwhile, India Today clarified that Aishwarya wasn’t even inside the car when it happened. “People close to the actor have confirmed that she is absolutely fine and there was no ‘accident’,” said a source close to the actress told the publication. Click here to read the full story. 

On the work front, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was last seen in Mani Ratnam‘s Ponniyin Selvan: II, released in April 2023. 

In the film, the actress reprised her role as Nandini. The epic historical action drama film also featured Vikram, Ravi Mohan, Sobhita Dhulipala, Karthi, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Prakash Raj, Rahman, R. Parthiban and Jayaram in important roles. Both instalments of Ponniyin Selvan are currently available for streaming on Prime Video.

YouTuber and content creator Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, resumed his podcast, The Ranveer Show, on Sunday following intense public backlash over his controversial remark about “watching parents have sex.” The statement led to widespread outrage, multiple FIRs, and online criticism.
Earlier today, Ranveer took to Instagram to share photos expressing gratitude, captioning his post, “Thank you to my loved ones. Thank you universe. A new blessed chapter begins – Rebirth.”
Ashish Chanchlani’s playful response
Fellow YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani, who was also a panellist on India’s Got Latent—the show where Ranveer made the controversial remark—reacted to the Instagram post. He commented, “Love you, but next time you are meeting me please don’t crack jokes near me,” adding a joined hands and a laughing emoji.
Tanmay Bhat’s comments and the B Praak connection
Comedian Tanmay Bhat joined the online banter with two cheeky comments. In one, he humorously wrote, “Missed you (not really)” with a kiss emoji. In another, he quipped, “Like this comment if you want a B Praak podcast,” referencing the singer’s criticism of Ranveer.
B Praak had earlier slammed Ranveer’s remark as “ghatiya” and announced that he had pulled out of a planned appearance on The Ranveer Show due to the controversy.

Ranveer’s apology and fresh start
In a new YouTube video, Ranveer apologised to those who felt let down by his remarks and assured fans that he would be more mindful of his content in the future.
“First of all, thank you to all my supporters and well-wishers. Your positive messages helped me and my family a lot. This phase was very difficult… I openly received violent threats, so much online hatred, so many media articles… we went through a lot, but in the midst of it all, your DMs helped us a lot,” he said.

Ranveer concluded by promising a “fresh start” and pledged to be more responsible with his content moving forward.

When it comes to art and culture, India is a blessed land. The best part is that Indian artists are well aware of our cultural aesthetics and richness and are often seen weaving threads of tradition in their artistic endeavors. Recently, rapper Hanumankind, through his song ‘Run It Up’ highlighted India’s rich tradition and culture on a global scale.

PM Narendra Modi praises rapper Hanumankind

He very beautifully showcased traditional Indian martial arts such as Kalaripayattu, Gatka, and Thang-Ta, in his song and has been gaining praise for the same from everywhere. Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been an avid advocate of Indian culture, has also praised Hanumankind for his work.
Narendra Modi expressed his admiration during the 120th episode of his monthly radio program, Mann Ki Baat. He said, “Friends, our indigenous games are now becoming a part of popular culture. You all must be knowing the famous rapper Hanumankind. His new song ‘Run It Up’ is becoming quite famous these days. Our traditional martial arts like Kalaripayattu, Gatka and Thang-Ta have been included in it.”
He continued, “I congratulate Hanumankind that due to his efforts people of the world are getting to know about our traditional martial arts.”

‘Run it Up’ after ‘Big Dawgs’

In March, Hanumankind, who gained international recognition this year with his viral song ‘Big Dawgs in 2024,’ made a comeback with his first solo release titled ‘Run It Up.’ The track features a unique Indian flavor, heavily influenced by the country’s diverse cultural heritage, especially its folk traditions and martial arts.
For this project, Hanumankind collaborated once again with Bijoy Shetty, the director of ‘Big Dawgs,’ and producer Kalmi. The visuals for ‘Run It Up’ serve as a lively tribute to Indian culture. While the ‘Big Dawgs’ music video featured an exhilarating well of death, this new release highlights various martial arts and traditional dance forms from India, focusing particularly on the rich cultural legacy of Kerala.