Nagraj Urs

BY JITU JANGIR

Je'Von Evans has made it clear that his goals in WWE go far beyond simply becoming a champion. The young star wants to establish himself as one of the greatest wrestlers the company has ever seen, and when discussing the wrestlers he studies, Evans pointed to Roman Reigns as someone who has already left a lasting mark on WWE. During his recent interview, Evans was asked who he considers the greatest wrestler of all time. While he named Shawn Michaels as his personal choice, he also praised Reigns when discussing the current generation and explained why he has so much respect for the former Undisputed WWE Champion. Evans credited Reigns with helping change WWE during a period when the company was dealing with declining viewership and revenue. He believes Reigns' return and transformation into his Tribal Chief character changed the way WWE presented its top star. “Roman, bro, he came back into the game and, bro, he carried WWE for like, I would even say four or five years. Like, he's doing his thing.” Evans then explained that Reigns did more than simply become a successful champion. In his view, the former world champion changed the overall feel of WWE and developed a presence that could connect with different generations of fans. “He changed the game. He changed the swagger, bro, of WWE. He changed everything.” Evans also compared Reigns' ability to draw reactions to that of John Cena, pointing out that both stars can step away from WWE and still return to major reactions from the audience. “No matter what, bro, like kind of like Cena, for real. Like no matter what, bro, he can take a break, come back and still get that big reaction.” The comments about Reigns also connect to Evans' goal of becoming the greatest WWE wrestler of all time. The 22-year-old has repeatedly spoken about wanting to build a career that places him among the biggest names in company history. Evans revealed that he is studying Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Triple H as he prepares for the future. He particularly admires the way Reigns understands WWE's changing audience and believes that Reigns has found a way to appeal to both longtime wrestling fans and newer viewers. “Roman for sure because he's so, like I said, he changed the game. So he kind of understands that this is not like a old fan base anymore... he knows how to kind of get the new fans and the old fans.” For Evans, Roman Reigns represents more than a potential future opponent. He is someone the young WWE star believes he can learn from as he works toward reaching the level of success he has set for himself.

BY JITU JANGIR

Zilla Fatu has opened up about his WWE debut, revealing what was going through his mind moments before he entered the ring for the first time on NXT. The young wrestler also spoke about feeling the presence of his late father, Umaga, during the emotional moment. Fatu made his WWE NXT debut on the August 11 episode of NXT, arriving alongside Tama Tonga and JC Mateo to confront Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. The appearance marked Fatu's first WWE television appearance and brought him into a story involving several members of the Anoa'i family. Fatu's first WWE appearance came after he had spent years developing his wrestling career outside the company. He trained under Booker T at Reality of Wrestling and built a following before eventually earning his opportunity with WWE. Speaking on The Hall of Fame with Booker T and Brad Gilmore, Fatu explained what was happening inside his head immediately before he walked out for his NXT debut. He said he already knew what he had been asked to do and focused on executing the plan while still bringing his own personality to the performance. “Whenever I pulled up, I already knew what time it was. Long as they called the play, I ran it. I did exactly what was told and I put my flavor on it. I put my flavor on it and we did it like that and we had fun. And right before I went out, I just said a quick prayer to myself, and I knew my dad was there because I felt him. I felt him.” The reference to his father made the moment especially personal for Fatu. Umaga passed away in 2009, but his influence remains a part of Fatu's wrestling journey. Before entering the ring at NXT, Fatu said he felt his father's presence and carried that feeling with him during his first WWE appearance. Fatu also remembered looking toward Booker T before he made his entrance. Seeing his mentor watching him provided reassurance that everything was going according to plan. “Right before I went out, man, it was just—it happened. I don’t even know how to express it. Like the slide and everything I did, and then right before I slid in, I looked at Book. I seen him like, ‘Okay, yep. As long as he’s looking, we good.’” Fatu later described the debut as a memory he would never forget and said he is ready for the next chapter of his career. “It was a memory I never forget, and I’m just ready to start this new journey. And like I said, man, you guys better buckle up, man. It’s going to be a long ride.”

BY JITU JANGIR

Booker T has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Avery Styles, arguing that the young wrestler should not have been criticized for refusing to help set up a wrestling ring before a match. The WWE Hall of Famer discussed the situation on The Hall of Fame podcast after Avery became involved in an online dispute with a promoter over his alleged refusal to help with chairs and other event setup. Avery Styles, 19, wrestled Marcus Mathers at a GCW event in Minneapolis on August 1. The situation later spilled onto social media after promoter Arik Cannon criticised Styles for allegedly not helping with the show's setup. Booker T said the entire situation made little sense to him, especially because Styles was being brought in as talent rather than as a student. “I got a wrestling promotion. I hire talent to come in every month. Even talent that live in Houston, and they don't set up a damn thing. Now, we got a crew. We got students that's coming up, that's trying to make their way in the business, and perhaps they were one of those students once upon a time that did that. But if they're talent on the show, they're well past that.” Booker then explained how he handles outside talent at Reality of Wrestling. “If I'm hiring out someone from another state and they're coming in, they're flying in or they're driving in or whatever, they're just coming in for the show. They're not coming in to set the ring up and take it down. That's ridiculous.” For Booker, there is a clear difference between a wrestling student learning the business and a wrestler who has already been booked to perform on a show. He went even further when discussing what he expects from wrestlers appearing at Reality of Wrestling. “As far as somebody coming to Reality of Wrestling, I would not be expecting them to show up to set the chairs up or take them down or bust a ring or any of that. And it's never been that way at Reality of Wrestling.” Booker also questioned why the dispute became a public issue in the first place. In his view, disagreements over backstage responsibilities should not have turned into an online controversy. “I don't want to, you know, bash anybody's company or anything like that, but for this to be a story out there, somebody's ass should be fired. That's the way I look at it.” The two-time WWE Hall of Famer acknowledged that some parts of the wrestling business have traditionally viewed helping with setup as a way of “paying dues.” However, he does not believe that should automatically apply to booked talent.

BY SACNILK TEAM

In India, medical inflation is rising by 12% to 15% a year. A single hospital stay can wipe out your hard-earned savings. This is why the best health insurance for cashless treatment is no longer optional. They are crucial to protect your finances. Best health insurance plans for cashless treatment cover hospitalisation, pre- and post-hospitalisation costs, day care procedures, and ambulance charges. They ensure quick access to quality medical care at network hospitals without the stress of arranging funds at short notice. Modern Health insurance Plans have evolved well beyond simple hospitalisation cover, now including features like wellness rewards, telemedicine consultations, and digital claim tracking that make the entire ownership experience far more convenient. Comparing Health insurance Plans today means looking at more than sum insured and premium — cashless network size, restoration benefits, no-claim bonuses, and the ease of filing a claim digitally all factor into real-world value. Star Health offers Health insurance Plans built around these modern expectations, combining comprehensive coverage with a straightforward, largely paperless purchase and renewal process. Choosing among Health insurance Plans based on your family's specific needs — rather than the cheapest headline premium — typically delivers far better outcomes when a claim actually needs to be filed. Reviewing your Health insurance Plans annually ensures new features and better coverage options aren't being missed at renewal time. What are the Types of Best Health Insurance for Cashless Treatment? Hospitalisation expenses can be a huge financial setback, but with a health insurance plan, you can breathe easy knowing you are covered. Here are some types of the best health insurance for cashless treatment: 1. Individual Health Insurance Plan This plan covers one person, the policyholder. The entire sum insured belongs to you. It covers treatment expenses, hospitalisation, and domiciliary care. 2. Family Health Insurance Plan This plan secures cashless hospitalisation for the whole family. You can cover your spouse, children, and parents under one policy with a single premium. 3. Senior Citizen Health Insurance This plan covers people aged 60 years and above. Cashless health insurance for senior citizens offers customisation options based on their health needs. 4. Critical Illness Health Insurance Critical illness cover provides additional benefits, such as room rent, ambulance fees, doctor and nursing fees, wellness programs, and hassle-free claim settlement. It provides 24*7 telehealth services for solving your queries. What are the Top 5 Health Insurance Companies in India Providing Cashless Treatment? Explore the top 5 health insurance companies in India. Follow the list below to narrow down your research and find the best health insurance for cashless treatment. Star Health For families who want a reliable, large network of hospitals and an insurer that handles everything without a third-party middleman. This company has an in-house claim settlement team, so you get faster and direct pre-authorisation. HDFC ERGO This company offers plans that build confidence through a reliable insurer and a strong product. That product strengthens your insurance coverage over time. Individuals who want coverage that grows aggressively can choose from these top 5 health insurance companies in India. Care Health Care Health offers Super Bonus features to double your original coverage over time. This helps with long-term health security. Aditya Birla All buyers who want comprehensive coverage at a sensible price can go for Aditya Birla Health Insurance plans. These top 5 health insurance companies in India offer wellness benefits with core protection. Niva Bupa They offer plans with customisable options to tackle your biggest worries. As you age, you can customise coverage and premiums. Make claims when needed, and avoid claims to earn a bonus. How Does the Best Health Insurance for Cashless Treatment Work? Cashless treatment sounds simple, but the steps change for planned care and emergencies. How does your health insurance plan with a cashless treatment benefit work? Here is: Planned Hospitalisation Use this when you know the treatment date, like a scheduled surgery. Follow these steps: Suppose you have a family health plan with a ₹6 lakh sum insured. Your doctor suggests a knee surgery that costs ₹2.2 lakhs. Pick a network hospital from your insurer’s list. At least 3 to 4 days before admission, the hospital sends a pre-authorisation form to your insurer with medical reports and the doctor’s advice. The insurer checks your policy, room limit, and balance cover. If all is clear, they approve the request. You get admitted on the fixed date and receive treatment without paying upfront. After discharge, the insurer pays the hospital directly. Out of ₹2.2 lakhs, they settle ₹2.05 lakhs. You pay only ₹15,000 for non-covered items like food, gloves, or masks. 2. Emergency Hospitalisation Use this for sudden events such as accidents or heart attacks when you cannot wait. Suppose you have a ₹10 lakh cover and meet with a road accident. The hospital bill comes to ₹1.5 lakhs. Your family takes you to a network hospital and shows your health card at the insurance desk. The hospital sends an emergency request to the insurer or TPA right away. The insurer verifies your policy and approves cashless care within 2 to 6 hours. You get treated without paying the full ₹1.5 lakhs upfront. At discharge, the insurer pays the hospital ₹1.42 lakhs directly. You only clear ₹8,000 for items not covered under the plan. Cashless care saves stress and cash during treatment. Always carry your health card and know your nearest network hospitals. What are the Benefits of Having Health Insurance Plans with a Cashless Treatment Feature? A cashless health plan helps you handle medical emergencies without financial stress. Why do you need the best health insurance for cashless treatment? Learn why it matters: Get Treatment Right Away During an emergency, time matters. A cashless plan lets you start treatment the moment you reach the hospital. You skip the rush to arrange cash or sell assets. The hospital admits you fast and focuses on care first. 2. Avoid Paying Upfront Hospital admission often requires a big deposit. With cashless cover, you pay nothing to get admitted. The insurer pays the hospital directly. This step protects your savings and keeps your monthly budget safe from sudden hits. 3. Enjoy Easy Claims The old pay-and-claim way needs lots of forms and follow-ups. In a cashless setup, the hospital and insurer talk to each other. They manage bills and approvals behind the scenes. You get faster approvals and a quicker discharge. 4. Access Better Hospitals Cashless plans give you access to top network hospitals. These hospitals have skilled doctors, trained staff, and modern equipment. You receive quality care without worrying about costs during admission. The health insurance claim settlement ratio expresses the percentage of claims an insurer settles out of everything it receives in a financial year, making it one of the most transparent measures of insurer reliability available to buyers. A consistently strong health insurance claim settlement ratio signals efficient processing, fair assessment of claims, and minimal rejections on technical grounds — exactly what you want at the moment your family is under medical stress. Star Health maintains a robust health insurance claim settlement ratio year after year, supported by an in-house claims team rather than outsourced processing. Checking the health insurance claim settlement ratio through IRDAI's annual publications before buying takes only minutes and protects you from insurers with poor claims records. A policy is ultimately a promise to pay, and the health insurance claim settlement ratio is the clearest objective evidence of how reliably that promise is kept. Bottom Line Cardiac conditions, respiratory disorders and cancer contribute significantly to the growth in medical care expenses and the burden of critical illness treatment. The best health insurance for cashless treatment makes medical care stress-free. So, do not let hospital bills drain your savings. With rising treatment costs, you must pick a plan that offers a wide hospital network, a strong claim settlement record, and smart features.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, August 18 - Superstar Jr. NTR and director Trivikram Srinivas' much-awaited upcoming epic on Lord Murugan has sparked fresh excitement, with NTR Arts reportedly registering two titles for the film. The project is one of the most ambitious collaborations in Telugu cinema and is confirmed to revolve around Lord Murugan, also known as Lord Kartikeya, with Jr NTR set to portray the divine warrior on a grand cinematic canvas. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The two titles registered for the film are reportedly Devasenapathi and God of War. Devasenapathi is particularly significant as it refers to Lord Kartikeya as the commander of the divine forces, while God of War directly reflects his identity as a powerful warrior deity. The registrations have therefore further strengthened the connection between the film's title and its central mythological subject. The makers had already dropped strong hints about the film's theme through the announcement poster, which featured a massive divine spear amid a battlefield and carried the tagline "One Spear. One Purpose. One Divine Reckoning." The announcement also described the protagonist as "The Son of Shiva. The Pride of Parvathi. The Eternal Commander," leaving little doubt about the Lord Murugan connection. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The project marks the reunion of Jr NTR and Trivikram after their successful collaboration on Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava. This time, the filmmaker is attempting something significantly more ambitious, with the story set against a mythological backdrop and expected to combine divine mythology, action, drama and large-scale visual spectacle. While Devasenapathi and God of War have reportedly been registered, the makers are yet to officially reveal the final title. Given the strong association of both names with Lord Kartikeya, either title could potentially become the film's official identity. With Jr. NTR headlining a film based on Lord Murugan/Kartikeya, the project is already emerging as one of the most eagerly awaited mythological spectacles from Indian cinema.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The upcoming collaboration between Venkatesh Daggubati and director Anil Ravipudi, which has been under production with the working title VenkyAnil5, now has a reported name and a confirmed release slot. The film is titled January 12 Vidudala, and the makers have locked in its theatrical debut for January 12, 2027. This timing secures the project a prime spot during the Sankranthi festival season, a window that has traditionally been very successful for the director. If you look at the track record of Anil Ravipudi, his ability to dominate the Sankranthi window is quite remarkable. His winning streak with family audiences during the festival began in 2019 with the massive success of F2: Fun and Frustration. He followed this in 2020 with the high-voltage action-comedy Sarileru Neekevvaru, which became one of the biggest grossers of that season. More recently, his 2025 release Sankranthiki Vasthunam solidified his standing as a commercial powerhouse, grossing over 255 Crore worldwide and marking a career-best solo hit. Even this year, he hit the bullseye with Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, which served as his ninth consecutive blockbuster and made significant waves in international markets like North America. With January 12 Vidudala, the director is clearly aiming to maintain this unbeaten festive record. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This project marks the fifth official collaboration between Venkatesh and director Anil Ravipudi, following a string of successful box office outings. Their partnership began with the massive hits F2 and F3, followed by the festive success of Sankranthiki Vasthunam in 2025. Most recently, Venkatesh made a memorable extended cameo under Anil direction in the 2026 film Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. For this new venture, titled January 12 Vidudala, Venkatesh will be sharing the screen with Nandamuri Kalyan Ram. While their previous Fun and Frustration films were driven by slapstick humor, this project is expected to be a family-oriented entertainer with a different narrative style. Produced by Dil Raju under the Sri Venkateswara Creations banner, the film also features Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary in key roles. The title itself is quite literal, directly referencing the scheduled release date to focus audience attention on the festive deadline. By announcing the title and date this early, the makers are clearly preparing for a high-stakes competition during the 2027 Sankranthi season. Given their track record, the industry is looking at this as a significant release for the holiday window.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Megastar Chiranjeevi is currently moving forward with his 158th film, and the production has reached a significant milestone. Director Bobby Kolli, who previously collaborated with the actor on the 2023 hit Waltair Veerayya, is helming this project. Recent reports indicate that the team has already completed 40 days of shooting, with the first half of the film reaching the edit-lock stage. The production is currently active in Hyderabad, managed on a large scale by KVN Productions, marking their debut in the Telugu film industry. A major highlight for fans is the upcoming update scheduled for August 22, 2026, coinciding with Chiranjeevi 71st birthday. The team plans to unveil the official title glimpse and teaser music on this day. Interestingly, this teaser will also be screened in select theaters across the Telugu states. Speculation regarding the title has been high ever since Chiranjeevi accidentally mentioned the word Kadiri during a recent event. This has led to rumors that the film might be titled Kadiri Kakaji, potentially featuring a rugged backdrop based in the Rayalaseema region. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film is being described as a new-age gangster action drama, but it will also feature a strong emotional core. While Thaman S handles the musical score, the cast includes Anaswara Rajan, Nivetha Pethuraj, Priyamani, and Rachita Ram. Sources from the sets suggest that Anaswara Rajan will play the role of Chiranjeevi daughter, providing the emotional weight to the narrative. On the action front, Tamil actor Sarathkumar has reportedly joined the cast to portray a ruthless antagonist, setting the stage for a high-stakes conflict. Sankranthi remains the most lucrative window for Telugu cinema, and Chiranjeevi has a history of delivering major hits during this festival, including Waltair Veerayya and Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. By locking in a Sankranthi 2027 release, the makers are positioning the film for maximum theatrical reach. Trade analysts estimate that if the film receives positive feedback, it could realistically target a worldwide gross between 200 and 250 crore.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

On its second Monday, DC recorded an India gross collection of 2.29 crore. This performance brings the total domestic gross to 65.35 crore, while the total net collection now stands at 56.76 crore after eleven days. When factoring in the overseas contribution of 21.50 crore, the film worldwide gross has climbed to 86.85 crore. The 55.6 percent drop from the previous day net collection of 4.50 crore represents a standard stabilization as the film moves through its second week across 2,165 shows. Kerala is currently providing a unique support system for the film box office run. It is rare for a Tamil release to see its Kerala collections almost match those of Tamil Nadu on a weekday. On its second Monday, Kerala contributed a gross of 0.70 crore, which is remarkably close to the 0.75 crore collected in Tamil Nadu. This trend suggests the movie has achieved a level of acceptance in Kerala that is usually reserved for local productions. Additionally, the Telugu states added 0.60 crore to the daily gross, while Karnataka brought in 0.22 crore. Including the 0.02 crore from other regions, the total domestic gross for Day 11 settled at 2.29 crore. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the language-wise breakdown, the Tamil version remains the primary driver with 1.40 crore net from 1,439 shows, maintaining an overall occupancy of nearly 30 percent. The Telugu version added 0.59 crore net from 673 shows with 23 percent occupancy, while the Hindi version remains on a very limited scale, contributing 0.01 crore from 53 shows. The film is currently running across 2,165 shows nationwide, showing a healthy screen count even after ten days of release. The occupancy trends across major cities show how the audience is distributed. In Chennai, the film maintained a 30 percent occupancy across 182 shows. Kochi recorded a daily average of nearly 34 percent occupancy across 104 shows, peaking at 56 percent during the night. In Bengaluru, the Tamil version is running on 110 shows with a 25.3 percent occupancy, while the Telugu version has a 32.3 percent occupancy across 11 shows. For the Telugu market, Hyderabad lead the volume with 175 shows at 28.5 percent occupancy, while Vijayawada recorded a 38 percent night peak across 17 shows. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Digital ticket bookings continue to show steady interest, with the total sales on BookMyShow now crossing the 16.09 lakh mark. On this second Monday alone, approximately 40,000 tickets were booked through the platform, reflecting a consistent audience flow even in the second week of its theatrical run. The performance in national multiplex chains has settled into a weekday rhythm. Across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film sold approximately 6,000 tickets on its eleventh day. PVR lead the count with about 3,900 tickets sold and a 10.47 percent occupancy. INOX contributed roughly 1,500 tickets, while Cinepolis accounted for nearly 600 tickets. These chains together generated a gross of about 9.3 lakh for the day. While the morning shows started quietly, the night shows saw a healthy jump to over 37 percent occupancy for the Tamil version, suggesting that the film is still a preferred choice for the working crowd.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The upcoming Onam season is a major period for Malayalam cinema, and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is currently the focus of much discussion. Scheduled to hit theaters on August 21, the film marks Nivin Pauly's return to the romantic-comedy genre where he originally found his footing. He plays Justin, starring alongside Mamitha Baiju as Ashley, in what is being viewed as a significant genre comeback for the actor. The industry is closely watching to see if this release can finally challenge his career-best opening day record. That milestone of 5.3 crore was established eight years ago with Kayamkulam Kochunni, and this new project represents his most direct attempt at breaking that record in a long time. Recent certification details show that the film has been cleared with a UA 13+ rating by the regional office. Produced by Bhavana Studios, the movie has a confirmed runtime of 156.59 minutes, which is about two hours and thirty-seven minutes. This length provides enough room for director Girish A.D. to explore the neighborhood dynamics and character layers he is known for. The story centers on Ashley's return from abroad, where a wedding next door brings back memories of her first love, Justin. Supported by an ensemble cast including Vinay Forrt and Sangeeth Prathap, the film is positioned as a substantial family entertainer for the holiday weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The project is also a major milestone for director Girish A.D., who is riding high on the success of his previous blockbuster, Premalu. Interestingly, the director has moved away from the urban cityscapes of his earlier films to explore a rural, close-knit Christian Catholic neighborhood near Angamaly. Girish has shared that this is his biggest-budget production to date, specifically designed to capture the unique humor and neighborhood gossip found in small-town life. The writing team, consisting of Girish and Kiran Josey, has crafted a story centered on first loves and second chances, which the industry expects will resonate with a wide family audience during the festival season. However, the road to the box office is not without its hurdles. The film is entering a high-pressure screen crunch as it goes head-to-head with Prithviraj Sukumaran action film, Khalifa, which arrives just a day earlier on August 20. To make room for these two festival giants, theater owners are currently in the process of clearing out older holdovers. While early August releases like Thudakkam and the Tamil hit DC , Vishwanath and Sons performed well, they are being phased out or moved to non-prime shows. This aggressive reallocation is necessary to ensure that the prime screens are split almost entirely between the two major new releases. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The pressure on screen availability eased slightly with the announcement that Dulquer Salmaan highly anticipated I am Game has been delayed until September 3. This gives Bethlehem Kudumba Unit and Khalifa a much clearer run to dominate the ticket windows during the peak Onam days. Exhibitors are pinning immense financial hopes on this specific window, with internal estimates suggesting that total box office revenue could be 20 to 30 percent higher than last year. In this high-stakes environment, every single prime-time show is vital for maximizing the initial collection.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 18 - Ektaa Kapoor is set to take her hugely popular Naagin franchise beyond television, with the iconic supernatural series now reportedly being developed for the big screen. The filmmaker teased the development on August 17, marking a major new chapter for a franchise that has dominated Indian television for more than a decade. The announcement comes on the occasion of Nag Panchami and has immediately sparked curiosity among fans about what a theatrical version could look like. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Naagin television franchise began in 2015 and has since completed seven seasons, establishing itself as one of the country's most recognisable supernatural properties. The series, produced by Ektaa Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms, revolves around shape-shifting serpents and has featured several leading television actresses in its various seasons. Balaji Telefilms has itself described Naagin 1 through Naagin 7 as an extremely successful mystical-fantasy franchise. For now, the big-screen project remains shrouded in mystery. Details regarding the cast, director, storyline and others have not been revealed. This leaves the biggest question unanswered — who will play the next Naagin on the big screen? Given the franchise's popularity, speculation about a major Bollywood actress taking on the iconic role is already expected to intensify. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Interestingly, the idea of turning Naagin into a feature film is not entirely new. Ektaa Kapoor has previously spoken about wanting to develop a cinematic version of the property, with reports suggesting that she had even approached major Bollywood names in the past. However, this latest announcement appears to signal that the franchise is finally ready to make the transition from television to cinema. The timing could also make the project particularly interesting. Bollywood has increasingly embraced fantasy, supernatural stories and established IPs, while Naagin already comes with a massive audience and years of built-in recognition. A theatrical adaptation would allow the makers to significantly expand the scale of its mythology, action and visual effects compared with television. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) View this post on Instagram A post shared by EktaaRkapoor (@ektarkapoor)

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 18 - Disney has officially locked in a packed 2028 theatrical slate for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with three MCU movies now scheduled to hit cinemas during the year. The announcement further underlines Marvel Studios' plans to enter its next major phase following the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga with Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027, with several highly anticipated franchises set to take centre stage. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The first major release will be Marvel Studios' X-Men, which is scheduled to arrive on May 5, 2028. The reboot was one of the biggest reveals at Disney's D23 event, where Marvel Studios officially unveiled its principal cast. Sadie Sink will play Jean Grey, Kit Connor will portray Cyclops, Christopher Abbott will be Professor X, Inde Navarrette will play Rogue, Maya Boyd will portray Storm, Samara Weaving will play Emma Frost, and Adam Driver has been cast as Mister Sinister. The film will be directed by Jake Schreier. The second MCU release is Ryan Gosling's Ghost Rider, which has now been officially dated for July 28, 2028. Directed by Shawn Levy, the film will mark Gosling's MCU debut and will arrive less than three months after X-Men, giving Marvel two major releases during the summer movie season. The project had previously been listed as an untitled Marvel release before Disney formally attached the Ghost Rider title and date. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The third MCU movie is Black Panther 3, currently scheduled for December 15, 2028. Ryan Coogler will return to direct the upcoming superhero movie, with David Jonsson cast as the new Black Panther. At the same time, Letitia Wright is set to reprise her role as Shuri, alongside Winston Duke as M'Baku. The film's placement in the lucrative holiday corridor makes it one of the biggest theatrical bets on Disney's 2028 calendar. The three-film lineup means Marvel will have X-Men, Ghost Rider and Black Panther 3 arriving in the same calendar year. With Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars leading into the post-Multiverse era, 2028 could therefore become a crucial year for the MCU. The arrival of the new X-Men alongside Ghost Rider and another Black Panther film suggests Marvel is preparing to expand its cinematic universe with a fresh generation of characters and franchises while continuing to rely on some of its most commercially powerful properties.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

If you have been looking for proof of Suriya cross-border superstardom, the performance on the first Monday provides a clear answer. While Mondays are often a sobering reality check for big releases, Vishwanath and Sons has managed to navigate this hurdle to cross a massive global milestone in record time. Based on early estimates, the worldwide gross for the film has now touched 121.27 crore in just four days. This is a significant moment, especially considering how the film is maintaining a strong presence across both Tamil and Telugu markets simultaneously. On its first Monday, Vishwanath and Sons saw its India gross collection touch 9.05 crore. This marks a standard stabilization at the ticket windows after a high-energy opening weekend, following a 62 percent dip from the Sunday performance. While such drops are expected for big-budget releases, the total domestic gross has now reached a solid 76.27 crore in just four days. When you factor in the early estimates from the international market, where it added another 2.00 crore on Monday, the total worldwide gross has climbed to approximately 121.27 crore. This impressive total has been accumulated across a domestic footprint of over 20,000 shows so far. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) One of the most interesting aspects of this box office run is the massive reception Suriya is receiving in the Telugu-speaking markets. He has long been considered the adopted son of the Telugu audience, and these latest figures provide clear evidence of that bond. In the North American market, the Telugu version alone crossed the 1 million dollar milestone in just three days, outperforming the Tamil version by a significant 69 percent. Reports from Venky Box Office highlight that the film earned a massive 3.95 million dollar gross overseas during its opening weekend. This strong momentum has pushed the film to the number one spot among Tamil releases in North America for 2026, ahead of other major titles like Jana Nayagan and Karuppu. The battle between the Tamil and Telugu markets is currently neck-to-neck, which is a rare sight for a Tamil-origin film. If we look at the state-wise gross collections, Tamil Nadu lead with a total of 30.50 crore, but Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are right behind with 30.25 crore. On Monday alone, the Telugu version actually outperformed the Tamil version, contributing a 4.25 crore gross compared to 3.00 crore from Tamil Nadu. This balanced contribution highlights Suriya massive reach across South India. Other regions have also chipped in significantly, with Karnataka contributing a gross of 8.90 crore and Kerala adding 5.45 crore to the total. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The regional and show-wise breakdown reveals exactly where the momentum is strongest. If you look at the theater occupancy throughout the day, there is a clear and steady climb as the working day ended. For the Tamil version, the morning started with about 19 percent occupancy but grew to hit 32 percent by the night shows. The Telugu version saw even more aggressive growth, starting the day at 20 percent and surging to a massive 50 percent occupancy during the night screenings. This trend suggests that word-of-mouth is helping the film stay relevant for the evening crowds. When we look at the specific regions, Chennai and Hyderabad remain the primary engines for this run. In Chennai, the film managed to maintain over 440 shows with a solid 39 percent occupancy. Hyderabad was not far behind, hosting about 385 shows for the Telugu version with a nearly identical occupancy rate. However, the real standout was Visakhapatnam, which recorded the highest occupancy in at nearly 50 percent across its 114 shows. Even in Bengaluru, where both versions are playing, the Telugu version saw a much better hold with 27 percent occupancy compared to 15 percent for the Tamil screenings. This highlight again confirms that Suriya pull in the Telugu belt is currently driving the film's stability. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the digital front, the momentum remains quite healthy. BookMyShow has recorded a total of 17.23 lakh tickets sold since the release, including a strong pre-sale of 306,000 tickets. On Monday, the platform saw 150,000 tickets sold. While this was just enough to miss the top 10 list for the year first Monday sales—sitting at the number 11 spot just behind titles like JanaNayagan and DC—it still reflects a very loyal audience base. The film is currently Suriya third-biggest opening weekend ever, trailing behind JanaNayagan and his previous hit, Karuppu. When you look at how the film is stabilizing in urban centers, the performance in major national multiplex chains offers a clear picture of the weekday trend. Across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the movie managed to sell approximately 30,600 tickets on its first Monday. PVR led the volume, accounting for nearly 18,300 of those tickets across roughly 500 shows, with a steady occupancy rate of about 16 percent. In INOX theaters, the film saw around 8,800 tickets booked over 330 shows at 11 percent occupancy, while Cinepolis contributed another 3,500 tickets from 230 screenings with an occupancy of roughly 8 percent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Aggregating these numbers, the film ran nearly 1,070 shows in these top-tier national chains alone on Monday. While these urban centers are maintaining a respectable pace, there is a distinct split in how the different versions are performing geographically. The Telugu version continues to do the heavy lifting in traditional international markets such as North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. On the other hand, the Tamil version is currently leading the charge in other global territories like Europe and the Middle East. This dual-language momentum is helping the film bridge the gap between regional preferences and cumulative box office totals.