Sai Pallavi to replace Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2 after latter opts out over fee dispute

Sai Pallavi is clearly on a roll. After reportedly locking in the coveted role of Sita in Ramayana, she is also set to star opposite Junaid Khan in Ek Din. And there’s more. Sai Pallavi has now been finalised to replace Deepika Padukone in Nag Ashwin’s much-anticipated sequel, Kalki 2.

A member of the Kalki 2 cast confirmed the development, saying, “It is Sai (replacing Deepika). There was never any question of scrapping the role after Deepika’s exit.”

Deepika’s departure from the sequel reportedly followed a fallout with the team. According to sources, the actress sought a substantial hike in her remuneration for the sequel, along with specific working-hour conditions to accommodate her responsibilities as a new mother.

An insider revealed, “Deepika wanted almost 35 percent more for the sequel than what she received for the first film. It became difficult to align on terms. She eventually exited, and now Sai Pallavi has stepped in.”

While there has been no official statement from the makers, the casting shift is expected to significantly alter the dynamic of the sequel, which remains one of the most awaited big-ticket projects in the pipeline.

Also Read: Is Sai Pallavi replacing Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2898 AD sequel?

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Inside Bastian Beach Club: Shilpa Shetty expands her hospitality brand with Mumbai’s first all-day beachfront hub

Actor-entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty has expanded her hospitality portfolio with the launch of Bastian Hospitality’s first beach club in Mumbai. The new property, Bastian Beach Club, was unveiled alongside founder Ranjit Bindra at the iconic Sun-n-Sand in Juhu.

Positioned as the city’s first all-day beachfront destination, the club brings together dining, music, leisure and wellness in one large-format space overlooking the Arabian Sea. With direct sea views and a sprawling pool at its centre, the venue aims to introduce a European-style beach club experience to Mumbai’s social circuit. Design and space Designed by Minal Chopra, the property draws aesthetic cues from coastal destinations such as Ibiza, Mykonos and Saint-Tropez. Open layouts, fluid indoor-outdoor transitions and a neutral coastal palette define the space, while the sea-facing deck and pool area serve as its visual anchor.

 

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During the day, the focus is on relaxed lounging. The club is designed to host brunches, family outings and curated children’s activities, alongside wellness-led mornings. As the evening progresses, the mood shifts to sundowners and live DJ-led sessions, eventually transitioning into a high-energy nightlife setting. The food programme The culinary direction combines popular dishes from Bastian’s existing menu with influences from Inka, offering Asian and Latin-inspired flavours. The small plates section includes dishes such as Veg Dry Corn Ceviche with chipotle and green apple, Like Guacamole with habanero, and Rock Broccolini tossed with curry leaf and chilli. Seafood options feature Hamachi Ceviche paired with sweet potato and tiger milk.

 

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Sushi, bao and dumplings form a key part of the menu, while larger plates include the Tropical Bowl with coconut milk and turmeric-spiced cottage cheese and Kinoko Hikari with wild mushrooms and truffle oil. Non-vegetarian offerings include the 5 Pimientas Chicken Bowl and Arabian Seabass Amazonico.

Desserts range from tiramisu and cheesecake to a hazelnut pull-me-up cake and a citrus-forward lime-lemon creation. Cocktail-led evenings The bar menu has been curated to complement the coastal theme. The Sakura Cloud Martini blends gin, sake and lychee topped with jasmine foam. Tigre Verde pairs vodka with coriander and citrus, while Pacific Breeze combines tequila with lemongrass, ginger and coconut water. The Shogun Mojito introduces shiso and sake into the classic mix.

 

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Bastian Beach Club is located at 39, Sun-n-Sand, Juhu Beach, Mumbai. It operates from Tuesday to Sunday, 4 pm to 1 am. The weekend cover charge is priced at Rs 5,000 per person.

Also Read: Shilpa Shetty performs puja for new Bastian outlet in Goa amid Rs 60 crores fraud case

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Shraddha Kapoor renews Juhu apartment lease at Rs 6 lakhs per month: Report

Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor has renewed the lease for an apartment in Mumbai’s Juhu locality, with a starting monthly rent of Rs. 6 lakhs, according to property registration documents reviewed by Square Yards on the website of the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) at https://ift.tt/zNB9f1r. The renewal deal was officially registered in February 2026.

Juhu is regarded as one of Mumbai’s most prestigious and sought-after real estate destinations, known for its premium residential environment and strong investment appeal. The locality features a blend of luxury apartments, sea-facing bungalows, and exclusive gated developments, attracting affluent homebuyers, celebrities, and long-term investors. Juhu enjoys excellent connectivity via the Western Express Highway, JVPD roads, and proximity to the domestic and international terminals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, along with easy access to key commercial hubs such as Bandra Kurla Complex, Andheri, and Santacruz. The area is also home to several high-profile residents and prominent personalities. Notable residents have included actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Varun Dhawan, and Hrithik Roshan.

According to property registration documents accessed by Square Yards, the same apartment in Prime Beach, Juhu, had earlier been taken on rent, with the deal officially registered in October 2024. The unit having an area of 365 sq. m. (3,929 sq. ft.). The agreement includes four car parking spaces and was registered with a stamp duty of Rs. 36,000 and registration charges of Rs. 1,000.

As per Square Yards’ analysis, the lease tenure is for 12 months. The agreed monthly rent starts at Rs. 6 lakhs, with the cumulative rental value over the full term at Rs. 72 lakhs.

Also Read: Saina Nehwal reveals Shraddha Kapoor was her first choice for biopic

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Siddhant Chaturvedi, Alizeh to lead Vikas Bahl’s 1990s-set UK Punjabi music drama: Report

Filmmaker Vikas Bahl is set to explore new ground with a full-fledged musical romance drama. The yet-untitled project will star Siddhant Chaturvedi and Alizeh Agnihotri in the lead roles and is being produced by Reliance Entertainment.

According to a report by Variety India, the upcoming film is said to be inspired by the rise of the UK Punjabi underground movement of the 1990s — a period when music became a marker of identity for the post-immigrant generation. Blending traditional Punjabi folk with Western influences, the movement created a distinct cross-cultural sound that resonated widely across communities in the United Kingdom.

Set against this backdrop, Bahl’s film will centre on a love story shaped by ambition, identity and artistic aspiration. Siddhant will reportedly play a drummer, while Alizeh will essay the role of a singer. The narrative is expected to trace their personal and creative journeys during what is often regarded as a defining era for UK Punjabi music.

Bahl, known for films such as Queen, Super 30 and Shaitaan, has completed the script and is preparing to move into pre-production. Shooting is planned for the second half of 2026.

The project will mark Siddhant’s second collaboration with Bahl after their upcoming romantic comedy Dil Ka Darwaza Khol Na Darling, which is slated for release later this year. The actor was recently seen in Do Deewane Seher Mein and is expected to begin work on a biopic based on legendary filmmaker V. Shantaram before starting this musical.

Alizeh made her acting debut with Farrey, the Hindi adaptation of the Thai film Bad Genius. Bahl’s musical will mark her second feature outing.

Also Read: Siddhant Chaturvedi expresses desire to play Yuvraj Singh in biopic: “I’ll keep manifesting it”

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Sanjay Leela Bhansali is “absolutely fine,” says official statement after heart attack rumours

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is “absolutely fine,” his team confirmed, putting to rest speculation about his health that surfaced earlier in the day.

Reports had claimed that the director was hospitalised in Mumbai after allegedly suffering a heart attack on his 63rd birthday. The claims circulated widely on social media before being addressed by an official statement from his production banner, Bhansali Productions.

“Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is doing absolutely fine. He has gone in for a routine medical check-up and there is no cause for concern. We sincerely appreciate the love, care, and concern shown by everyone. Thank you for your continued support and warm wishes,” the statement read.

The clarification comes after unverified posts suggested that the filmmaker had been rushed to a hospital following discomfort. However, his team has categorically denied the reports, confirming that the visit was part of a regular health check.

Speaking of the professional front, Bhansali is currently in the middle of filming Love & War, a period drama starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.

Also Read: “You sculpt feelings”: Manisha Koirala pens heartfelt tribute to Sanjay Leela Bhansali on his birthday

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Two marriage ceremonies for Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda

The Big Fat South Indian Wedding of Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda on February 26 promises to be special on many counts. A guest from the Udaipur venue revealed that the couple intends to go through two separate ceremonies.

“The first wedding will be in the Telugu tradition while the second ceremony will be in the Kodava tradition, peculiar to the Coorg district in Karnataka, which Rashmika belongs to,” revealed a guest from Udaipur.

Apparently, it was Vijay’s idea to have two different ceremonies to honour the culture and communities that the couple belongs to.

Also Read: Rashmika Mandanna-Vijay Deverakonda wedding: From taking just a short break post-marriage to starting their joint production house, here’s the dope around the star couple before their big leap

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Ram Gopal Varma calls Seedance 2.0 the “asteroid” set to brutally murder film industry’s “arrogance”: “This is actually the liberation of cinema”

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has stirred a fresh debate on the future of cinema, calling AI tool “Seedance 2.0” the “murderer of the film industry” while also describing it as a force of liberation.

In a post shared on February 25, 2026, Varma argued that advanced AI filmmaking tools could dismantle the traditional structure of the movie business. Referring to blockbuster filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli, he wrote that directors like Rajamouli command massive budgets due to their proven creative vision and track record. However, he questioned how many equally talented storytellers across India never get access to funding or industry networks.

According to Varma, tools like Seedance 2.0 have “kicked the gate down and set it on fire,” enabling creators from small towns to generate large-scale, cinematic visuals using descriptive prompts alone. He described it as “true democracy in motion,” suggesting that AI shifts power away from a select few and into the hands of the masses.

Varma went further, predicting a structural collapse of the current filmmaking ecosystem. “A director’s primary job is to take a scene on paper and transfer it onto screen,” he wrote, listing the vast crew involved in the process. Advanced AI, he claimed, could eliminate the need for actors, technicians, production teams and even large budgets.

“No more star issues. No more producers panicking over budgets. No more 300 people standing around waiting for one shot. Just one person. One prompt. One mind,” he stated.

Calling the evolution inevitable, Varma likened the shift to an asteroid striking dinosaurs. “The dinosaurs had their 100 year reign. Now the asteroid has arrived. And its name is A I,” he wrote, adding that the industry “will get murdered brutally — not slowly, not peacefully.”

SEEDANCE 2.0 , the MURDERER of FILM INDUSTRY Leaving aside its copyright infringements etc which is another matter , here’s my take on Seedance 2.0

@ssrajsmouli is the no. 1 director because he makes the most expensive films and the most successful ..People fund him a 1000…

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) February 25, 2026

He concluded by posing a provocative question: Is this the death of the film industry, or its ultimate democratisation?

Varma’s remarks have already sparked conversations on the social media platform, reigniting the ongoing debate over whether artificial intelligence will disrupt or redefine the future of cinema.

Also Read: Ram Gopal Verma says he “pities the ones who will come in Dhurandhar 2’s way” ahead of its release on March 19

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