Manoj Bajpayee to play Mahatma Gandhi in new film, losing 10 kg

The film 'Hanuman ANSH' is currently generating significant interest in cinema screenings. The director and screenwriter of the film, Dr. Vishal Chaturvedi, expressed a desire for Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma to also watch this picture, especially after it was appreciated by Virender Sehwag.

The director noted that it would be a great joy for the entire crew if Virat and Anushka could see the film. It was particularly meaningful that Virender Sehwag watched 'Hanuman ANSH' with his child, without being part of the film crew, and shared his reaction on social media. For Chaturvedi, this moment was very emotional, as he has long been a big cricket fan of Sehwag.

Chaturvedi emphasized that Sehwag's approval was not just a celebrity review for him, but a kind of 'full circle life' moment. Now his focus is on Virat Kohli, and he hopes that Virat and Anushka can experience this spiritual story.

The film is also showing impressive box office results. Released on August 7, 2026, without a major marketing campaign or active promotion, 'Hanuman ANSH' achieved significant success through word-of-mouth. After four weeks in India, the film's total revenue reached 85.97 crore rupees. On the first day, the film earned 1 million rupees, and in the first week, it collected 1.08 crore rupees. In the second week, it earned 4 million rupees, but thanks to strong word-of-mouth, the income reached 10.40 crore rupees in the third week.

The film's story plans to go beyond the country. The creators announced that 'Hanuman ANSH' will be shown worldwide on September 11, 2026, allowing the international audience to get acquainted with the spiritual history of the Maharaj.

Furthermore, the director confirmed that the story of 'Hanuman ANSH' will continue, and a sequel will be released. The film is a spiritual drama inspired by the life and teachings of Nima Kauli Baba, whom fans affectionately call the Maharaj. Shobhanav Satya played the role of Nima Kauli Baba, and Vikhan Shedge portrays another stage of the Maharaj's life. The film also features actors such as Chandan Anand, Purmina Tiwari, Anil K. Rastogi, and Gulshan Pandey. This 2 hour 30 minute film, rated U, is considered successful due to people's deep faith in the Maharaj and great interest in his life. It remains to be seen what reaction the Sehwag couple, and subsequently Virat-Anushka, will have after watching 'Hanuman ANSH.'

Kriti Senan's advertisement campaign for the Rakhi festival generated significant public resonance and led to political debates. Although the public initially discussed the actress's revealing outfit, the situation escalated after the intervention of two prominent political figures.

The allied jewelry brand GIVA withdrew the advertisement, stating via an Instagram post that it did not intend to offend anyone's feelings. The company claimed its goal was to convey the spirit of the festival in every detail and that it respects Indian culture and traditions. Subsequently, the brand removed the advertisement from all platforms.

Opinions among users on social media were divided regarding the ad's removal. Some believe that if the issue had remained within public discussion, such measures might not have been necessary, but the political climate exacerbated the situation. Support from Rahul Gandhi failed to resolve the dispute surrounding this advertisement.

Khanna Raunaut was the first to comment on the situation, sharing a post where she spoke about Kriti Senan's advertisement. She noted that modern women are global, and there are many clothing options available—from cocktail dresses and lehenga cholis to jeans, sarees, bikinis, and salwar kameez. Therefore, in her opinion, it is illogical to tie rakhis on a brother's wrist while wearing a bikini or underwear. Khanna described the advertisement as intentionally strange and uncomfortable.

In response to Khanna Raunaut's comment on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi replied. He stated that a woman's choice of clothing, actions, and location is her personal decision. He called for an end to harassing women for their preferences, using the hashtag 'Smash the Patriarchy' in his reactive post.

In turn, the actress responded to Rahul's statement about 'smashing patriarchy.' Khanna cited cases such as the women's reservation law, triple talaq, and the Shah Bano case to counter Rahul Gandhi. She shared several caricatured images depicting Rahul Gandhi calling for the destruction of patriarchy. In one post featuring Rahul Gandhi, Khanna wrote: 'Bro, wait. Victory of Mother India.' In another post where a woman asks about triple divorce, Khanna's reply to Rahul states: 'Ah, that was completely a vote politics, but still smash patriarchy.' In a third post where a woman asks about voting against the women's reservation law, the reply reads: 'Again this vote politics, bro, but still smash patriarchy.' When the woman asked about Shah Bano, Khanna's reaction read: 'Break the cage.' These posts by Khanna went viral online.

Previously, Khanna Raunaut had repeatedly criticized Rahul Gandhi in interviews and on social media. The actress openly opposed the policies, decisions, and statements of Rahul Gandhi and his party in the country.

The main cause of the dispute was Kriti Senan's revealing attire in the Rakhi advertisement, specifically her bralette. The public reacted strongly to the actress displaying such bold and revealing clothing during a traditional festival like Rakhi. Khanna Raunaut also raised questions regarding Kriti's attire. After the situation gained serious momentum, Kriti issued an explanation. She emphasized that the true meaning of the festival lies not in clothing but in emotions and traditions. She questioned when people would stop dictating what women should and should not wear, asserting that culture and tradition live in the heart, not in the cleavage.

A video that went viral on social media shows Bhojpuri superstar and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pawan Singh receiving blessings from Lalu Prasad Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

This meeting took place during the grand finale of the show 'Bhojpuri Baawal' in Patna, where Governor of Bihar Samrat Chaudhary and other influential figures were also present. The video clearly shows that as soon as Pawan Singh spotted Lalu Yadav, he immediately approached and bowed to him, saying: 'Chacha, bahut din baad mile' (Uncle, long time no see).

Lalu Yadav smiled and placed his hand on Pawan Singh's shoulder, bestowing his blessing. A brief conversation also took place between them, which was fully captured on camera.

This encounter attracted public attention because Pawan Singh is a BJP MP, while Lalu Yadav is the head of RJD and a prominent opposition politician. Despite representing different political views, respect for elders is a tradition in Bihari culture and the Bhojpuri industry. Pawan Singh's address to Lalu as 'Chacha' and his bow demonstrate adherence to this cultural norm.

Many major political figures and Bhojpuri artists gathered at the grand finale. During the event, Pawan Singh also raised a demand for the creation of a film center for the Bhojpuri industry, which became an important issue for local artists. After the video went viral, social media users praised the meeting between Pawan Singh and Lalu Prasad, noting his humility and respect for culture. Nevertheless, some view this meeting through a political lens, especially after Tej Pratap Yadav made some controversial remarks about Pawan Singh during the same event.

The meeting between Pawan Singh and Lalu Yadav has become a topic of discussion in both the Bhojpuri industry and Bihar politics, showing that despite differences in political ideologies, culture and mutual respect can unite people.