Hindi
I&B ministry orders Dhurandhar makers to mute ‘Baloch’; revised cut in cinemas
NATIONAL: Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar is heading back to cinemas in a revised cut, even as it continues a record-breaking box-office run.
According to trade communication sent to exhibitors on December 31, distributors have asked theatres nationwide to replace the film’s digital cinema package and screen an updated version from January 1, 2026. The changes follow directives from India’s ministry of information and broadcasting, which required the muting of two words and the alteration of a dialogue. One of the excised references, trade sources said, was the word “Baloch”.
The move comes amid fierce public debate around the film’s political subtext, with critics branding it propaganda even as audiences have turned it into a phenomenon. Released on December 5, Dhurandhar has surged past the box-office tallies of Pathaan, Jawan and Chhaava, crossing Rs 1,100 crore globally and Rs 739 crore in India within four weeks.
Led by Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy embedded inside a terror network in Pakistan’s Lyari Town, the film has drawn particular acclaim for Akshaye Khanna’s turn as Rehman Dakait. It also stars Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and Sara Arjun, among others. Despite its domestic success, the film remains banned across Gulf markets.
Hindi
Rashmika Mandanna, Shanaya Kapoor and Naila Grrewal climb IMDb’s Indian celebrity rankings
Upcoming films and returning shows are driving fan interest across Bollywood and streaming
MUMBAI: Bollywood’s popularity contest has a new weekly scorecard, and the numbers are telling. IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities list for this week places Shanaya Kapoor at number six, buoyed by buzz around her film Tu Yaa Main. Naila Grrewal slots in at seven on the back of the returning comedy series Maamla Legal Hai, while Rashmika Mandanna climbs to eighth, riding mounting anticipation for Cocktail 2.
The list, available exclusively on the IMDb app for Android and iOS, tracks trending Indian entertainers and filmmakers each week, drawing on data from more than 200m monthly visits to the platform worldwide.
Further down the rankings, Raaka is keeping two of its biggest names in the spotlight. Deepika Padukone holds 11th position, with Allu Arjun close behind at 13th, as the film continues to find traction with audiences.
The list offers fans a weekly pulse on who is breaking through, who is holding steady, and who is fading. It is a barometer as unsparing as the box office itself.
