Next in the kitty
Following the success of his Diwali release Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, Harshvardhan Rane is reportedly in advanced talks with producer Ektaa R Kapoor for a high-octane gangster film set in Dubai. The buzz is that the project combines action, crime, and drama, with Harshvardhan being seen as “a strong fit for a gritty and layered role that’s very different from his romantic image.” We have learnt that discussions are ongoing, and that the film will explore “the emotional and ruthless shades” of a gangster. If finalised, the film could mark a turning point in Rane’s career. Despite negative reviews Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is a hit at the box-office. The movie, also starring Sonam Bajwa, has earned R22.75 crore net in its first three days at the box office. It was reportedly mounted on a modest budget of Rs 25 crore.
Desired ‘Company’ of the king
Ram Gopal Varma, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has revealed that Shah Rukh Khan and Abhishek Bachchan were his first choices for Company (2002) before Ajay Devgn and Vivek Oberoi took the lead roles. Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, RGV shared, “My first instinct was to cast Shah Rukh. I narrated the story to him, and he was genuinely interested. But his energy is like a live wire — Malik’s character needed to be calm and controlled.” The director said he immediately called Ajay after leaving Shah Rukh’s house. He also revealed that Abhishek was also approached but as the actor couldn’t commit, he went to Vivek, who made his debut with the gangster classic.
Setbacks from the past
Mohanlal at a press conference
In a setback for Mohanlal and the Kerala government, the High Court on October 24 quashed the state’s 2015 order legalising his possession of ivory tusks, citing procedural lapses. The court also cancelled his licence and directed the government to issue a fresh notification in line with statutory norms. Observing that the order was never published in the official gazette, the court deemed it invalid. Reacting to the verdict, Mohanlal’s counsel said it was “nothing but only a technical issue.” The ruling reopens legal scrutiny over the actor’s ivory collection.