Excel Entertainment turns 25: Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani announce Excel Origins to back filmmakers under 30

As Excel Entertainment marks 25 years in the Hindi film industry, co-founders Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar have announced Excel Origins, an initiative aimed at discovering and supporting a new generation of filmmakers.

Sidhwani and Akhtar announced the initiative through their social media posts, looking back at the journey that began with Dil Chahta Hai. The 2001 film, which marked Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut, went on to become an influential coming-of-age film and established Excel Entertainment’s interest in backing fresh voices.

Reflecting on the company’s beginnings, the duo noted that they were 26 when they started Excel Entertainment. “We didn’t have all the answers but we had an idea we believed in, the courage to take risks and the tenacity to make it happen,” they said.

With Excel Origins, the filmmakers now intend to extend that philosophy to emerging talent. The initiative will focus on filmmakers under 30, with the aim of identifying writers and directors with distinctive voices and supporting them in developing original stories.

The initiative will explore projects across genres and formats, while also creating opportunities for emerging actors and other creative talent.

 

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Looking ahead, Sidhwani and Akhtar said the next 25 years would include “Excel empowering young, aspiring filmmakers with bold ideas and the courage to tell stories differently.”

The initiative, they added, is ultimately about investing in “where cinema goes next.”

Also Read: Excel Entertainment launches Excel Music label with Universal Music Group partnership

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73 year old Director Shakeel Noorani arrested over alleged rape of 33 year old actor in Mumbai

Film director Shakeel Noorani, 73, has been arrested in Mumbai following a complaint filed by a 33-year-old actor, who has alleged that she was raped after being called to his residence in Malwani. According to the police complaint, Noorani allegedly invited the actor to his house on the pretext of discussing an upcoming film project.

The actor has alleged that after she reached the director's residence, she was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted. The complaint further states that Noorani allegedly threatened her following the incident. Police subsequently registered a case based on the actor's allegations and arrested the filmmaker.

Following his arrest, Noorani was produced before the Borivali Holiday Court. The court has reportedly remanded him to police custody until August 12, during which the police are expected to investigate the allegations and gather further evidence in the case.

The allegations are currently part of an ongoing investigation, and the charges against Noorani have not been established in court.

Shakeel Noorani has been associated with Hindi cinema as a writer, producer and director. He is known for films including Bade Dilwala, released in 1999, and Joru Ka Ghulam, which came out in 2000.

The latest case has brought the veteran filmmaker into the spotlight as Mumbai Police continue their investigation into the actor's allegations. Further details regarding the case are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses and the police record statements and examine other evidence connected to the complaint.

Noorani's police custody is scheduled to continue until August 12, following which he is expected to be produced before the court again. The investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the allegations and the events that allegedly took place at his Malwani residence.

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Manoj Bajpayee’s Governor tops Prime Video India charts after leading rental rankings

Manoj Bajpayee’s latest film, Governor, has reached the No. 1 spot on Prime Video’s overall movie trending charts in India following its move from the rental service to regular streaming. The film, backed by Sunshine Pictures and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, is based on the 1991 financial crisis and explores the story of an unsung figure whose decisions played an important role during the period of economic uncertainty.

Directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, Governor first released in theatres, where it drew attention for its subject and realistic portrayal of a significant chapter in India’s economic history. Following its theatrical run, the film made its digital debut on Prime Video’s rental service before becoming available for regular streaming to subscribers in India.

During its initial OTT release, Governor climbed to the top of Prime Video’s Rent Charts, surpassing several international titles, including Obsession. After becoming available to all Prime Video subscribers, the film continued its digital run by securing the No. 1 position on the platform’s overall movie trending charts in India.

Manoj Bajpayee leads the film, portraying the central character against the backdrop of the 1991 economic crisis. His performance forms an important part of the film’s narrative, with the story focusing on the personal and professional challenges surrounding the historic period. The film combines its economic and political backdrop with a human element, making the events accessible to a wider audience.

The film has been presented by Sunshine Pictures and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, with Aashin A. Shah serving as co-producer. The screenplay has been written by Suvendu Bhattacharjee, Saurabh Bharat, Ravi Asrani, and Vipul Amrutlal Shah.

The film’s music has been composed by Amit Trivedi, while the lyrics have been penned by Javed Akhtar. With its latest achievement on Prime Video India, Governor has continued its digital journey after its theatrical release, reaching audiences across the streaming platform.

Also Read : Governor OTT release: Manoj Bajpayee-led historical drama now on Prime Video

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Siddhant Chaturvedi buys Rs 12.63 crores apartment in Mumbai weeks after buying Rs 13.91 crores apartment in the same building

Siddhant Chaturvedi has reportedly made another major property investment in Mumbai. The actor, along with his mother Meenal Laxman Chaturvedi, has purchased an apartment in Vile Parle West for Rs 12.63 crores. The latest deal comes just weeks after the mother-son duo bought another apartment in the same residential building for Rs 13.91 crores.

According to property registration documents accessed by real estate consultancy firm Liases Foras, the latest transaction was registered on July 31, 2026. The apartment is located on the seventh floor of Namo Krishna, a residential building situated on 10 N S Road in Mumbai’s Vile Parle West.

The newly purchased home has a RERA carpet area of 1,640.63 square feet and a total area of 1,804.67 square feet. The property also includes an automatic robotic car parking space. Siddhant and his mother purchased the apartment from Relcon Infraprojects Ltd and paid Rs 75.76 lakh as stamp duty for the transaction.

The latest purchase is notable because it follows another high-value property deal by the actor in the same building. On June 19, 2026, Siddhant and Meenal purchased an apartment on the sixth floor of Namo Krishna for Rs 13.91 crores. That property has a carpet area of 2,173.87 square feet and a built-up area of 222.24 square metres. The apartment was purchased from Suchita Ramesh Deora through an Agreement for Sale.

With the latest transaction, Siddhant and his mother have collectively spent more than Rs 26.5 crores on two apartments in the same building within less than two months.

Siddhant Chaturvedi began his acting career with the Amazon Prime Video series Inside Edge, in which he played a teenage cricketer from 2017 to 2019. He later made his film debut in a supporting role as a street rapper in the musical drama Gully Boy in 2019. He subsequently moved into lead roles and appeared in projects including the romantic drama Gehraiyaan (2022) and the coming-of-age drama Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023), both of which found an audience through streaming platforms.

Also Read : Siddhant Chaturvedi returns as face of Crocs’ Echo franchise for new ‘Let Them Talk’ campaign

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BREAKING: Ramayana’s UNIQUE release strategy REVEALED; Namit Malhotra confirms international release on November 6; India to witness the epic on Diwali, November 8

On August 5, Bollywood Hungama was the first to report that Ramayana would release worldwide in most international markets on Friday, November 6. And now, producer Namit Malhotra has revealed an unusual release strategy – the film will arrive in international markets two days before its India release.

In an interview with NDTV, Namit Malhotra revealed that since Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, audiences in India will get to watch Ramayana on the big screen on the festival day itself. Meanwhile, the film will release overseas two days earlier, on Friday, November 6.

When asked about the film’s release date, Namit Malhotra said in the NDTV interview, “It’ll release in India on Diwali.” When specifically asked if that meant Ramayana would arrive in Indian theatres on November 8, he replied in the affirmative.

The reporter then pointed out that the recently released English version of the Ramayana trailer mentions November 6 as the release date. Explaining the difference, Namit Malhotra said, “So, we are releasing internationally (on November 6). The international distribution works from a Friday standpoint. So, that is on the 6th of November. But India currently we are targeting a release on Diwali.”

While Dharma Productions will distribute Ramayana in India, Sony Pictures has picked up the overseas distribution rights. Last week, Bollywood Hungama broke the news that T-Series has bagged the music rights to both parts of Ramayana for Rs. 75 crores in an advance deal.

Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. It is directed by Nitesh Tiwari of Dangal (2016) fame and produced by Namit Malhotra. The music is composed by A R Rahman and Hans Zimmer. It's a two-part saga with the first part releasing on Diwali 2026. As for the second part, it'll arrive on the big screen on Diwali 2027.

Also Read: CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates Namit Malhotra’s Prime One; says, “I will be disappointed if Academy Award doesn’t come to Ramayana”

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TVF announces Family Kirana Store Season 2; filming to begin next week

The Viral Fever (TVF) has announced the second season of its YouTube series Family Kirana Store following the positive response to its debut season. The makers confirmed that production on the new season is scheduled to begin next week. The comedy-drama revolves around the everyday lives of a middle-class family that runs a neighbourhood grocery store. Led by Shrikant Verma as Gajanand, the series also features Garima Vikrant Singh and Hemant Mishra in key roles.

Family Kirana Store Season 2 goes on floors next week Sharing the update, TVF confirmed that Family Kirana Store will return for another season after the first instalment found an audience on YouTube.

The series follows Gajanand and his family as they navigate the highs and lows of managing their kirana store while balancing relationships, responsibilities and everyday challenges. With its slice-of-life storytelling and humour, the show connected with viewers looking for grounded family entertainment.

According to the makers, the upcoming season will continue exploring the family's journey while retaining the warmth and everyday moments that defined the first season.

Season 1 of Family Kirana Store is currently available to stream on YouTube. TVF continues to expand its content slate The announcement comes as TVF continues to expand its lineup across streaming platforms and digital content. Over the years, several of the production house's popular titles, including Aspirants, Kota Factory and Sapne Vs Everyone, first reached audiences through YouTube before growing into widely recognised franchises.

TVF also recently unveiled a number of upcoming projects during Prime Video Presents. The slate includes films such as Vvan and College Fest, along with new series like Pyramid and Vansh. The production house also confirmed new seasons of Aspirants, Panchayat, Gram Chikitsalay, Sapne Vs Everyone and Sandeep Bhaiya.

Several TVF titles also feature in IMDb's list of the Top 250 TV Shows, including Pitchers, Panchayat, Gullak, Kota Factory, Aspirants, Yeh Meri Family and Sapne Vs Everyone, reflecting the sustained popularity of the studio's storytelling among audiences.

Also Read: ZEE5 and The Viral Fever announce their first Original, Saas Bahu Aachar Pvt. Ltd.

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MEGA EXCLUSIVE: Raveena Tandon and Parineeti Chopra join the cast of Malamaal Weekly 2

Bollywood Hungama was the first one to confirm in February 2026 that Malamaal Weekly 2 is in the works. Two months later, in April 2026, we revealed that Amit Joshi of Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024) fame has been signed to direct the comic caper. We now bring you another exciting piece of news from this upcoming project.

Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that two talented actresses, Raveena Tandon and Parineeti Chopra, have joined the cast of Malamaal Weekly 2. A source told Bollywood Hungama, "Both the actresses are perfect as per the requirement of the script. Hence, the makers were really keen to have them on board. Thankfully, both Raveena Tandon and Parineeti Chopra loved the script and their respective characters. They readily signed the film."

The source continued, "Both actresses are talented and have great comic timing. Raveena has proved her worth with the numerous comedies she has starred in during the 1990s and early 2000s, as well as the recently released Welcome To The Jungle (2026). Meanwhile, Parineeti Chopra began her career with a comic and adorable role in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011). Hence, expect them to rock the show in Malamaal Weekly 2."

Besides Raveena Tandon and Parineeti Chopra, Paresh Rawal has also been confirmed for the film. The makers are now looking to cast other prominent actors in key roles.

In February, Bollywood Hungama carried a quote of a source that said, “The team, working on Malamaal Weekly 2, has hit upon a great idea that is apt as the second part of the series. It is not a direct sequel. The characters and setting this time would be different, but just like the first part, it’ll be about a group of greedy villagers who go to insane lengths to get hold of a huge amount of money.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Amit Joshi of Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya fame to direct Malamaal Weekly 2

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