EXCLUSIVE: Sayani Gupta’s directorial debut Aasmani to open Yellowstone International Film Festival in Mumbai

Sayani Gupta’s directorial debut, Aasmani, has been selected as the opening film of the Yellowstone International Film Festival for its Mumbai premiere on November 30. Bringing the film to Mumbai, the city where her career started, marks a full-circle moment for Sayani.

As the opening film, Aasmani sets the tone for the festival, presenting a heartwarming story about a 60-year-old grandmother, her 10-year-old granddaughter, and their vintage powder blue Fiat.

This comes after an impressive festival run where Aasmani played at over 12 festivals in just two months. Its accolades include Best Director for Sayani and Best Child Actor for Daria Bedi in Boston, Best Short Film at Atlanta, and an Honorable Mention for Excellence in Short Filmmaking at iSAFF Vancouver. At Vancouver, Sayani also received the Leadership in Film Award. At IFFSA Toronto, she was honoured with the South Asian Screen Excellence Award as Guest of Honour, while Revathy, who plays Asha in the film, won Best Actor for an International Short.

Following its screening at the 30th Vancouver Asian Film Festival from November 5 to 14, the film's festival journey continues with selections lined up until March 2027.

Opening a major festival with a film she wrote and directed marks a new chapter for Sayani after a decade of acting. This Mumbai premiere brings the film’s global awards and recognition back to where it all began.

Also Read: Revathy wins Best Actor (International Short) for Sayani Gupta’s directorial Aasmani at IFFSA

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Ram Kamal Mukherjee wins Best Director at the 11th International Indian Film Festival of Toronto for Lokkhikantopur Local

Bollywood filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee has added another prestigious accolade to his cinematic journey, winning the Best Director Award at the International Indian Film Festival of Toronto (IIFFT) for his Bengali film Lokkhikantopur Local.

The recognition places Mukherjee alongside noted veteran Bollywood filmmaker Kabir Khan, who also received the Best Director honour for his acclaimed film Chandu Champion, starring Kartik Aaryan. This latest achievement marks another significant milestone for Mukherjee, who won his first National Film Award in 2023 for his Hindi short film Ek Duaa. With Lokkhikantopur Local, the filmmaker continues to make his mark through stories rooted in Indian realities and human emotions.

Sharing his happiness, Ram Kamal Mukherjee said, “Every award is special, but international recognition for a story told in my mother tongue makes it even more emotional. Lokkhikantopur Local is very close to my heart. It celebrates the people, places, and stories that often remain unnoticed but are deeply woven into the fabric of our lives. To have this film recognised on an international platform is truly overwhelming. Sharing this honour with a filmmaker of Kabir Khan's stature makes the moment even more special. I remember interviewing Kabir when I was working with Stardust. He is a brilliant storyteller. I dedicate this award to my producer Sangita Sinha and my entire directorial team who had faith in my vision, and the jury members at IIFFT for evaluating this film in the same light as a mega-star Kartik Aaryan film like Chandu Champion; this gives me hope that good content will always find its own audience.”

From winning a National Film Award for Ek Duaa to receiving international recognition for Lokkhikantopur Local, Ram Kamal Mukherjee's journey is a testament to his commitment to meaningful storytelling and cinema that transcends geographical and linguistic boundaries.

The film is produced by Sangita Sinha under the banner of Angel Creations. “I am extremely proud of my director Ram Kamal dada for winning this prestigious award in Toronto. The competition was tough, as regional cinema comes with a lot of financial restrictions, but still, on the basis of pure content and performance, the film won hearts,” says Sangita Sinha, who also plays a pivotal role as an actor in Lokkhikantopur Local.

The film stars Rituparna Sengupta, Paoli Dam, Kaushik Ganguly, Indraneil Sengupta, Chandrayee Ghosh, Sayani Ghosh, John Bhattacharya, Rajnandini Paul, and Debashish Mondal.

“I am delighted to know that Ram Kamal won the Best Director Award at IIFFT, and he is definitely deserving. His craft has been well appreciated by national and international cine-connoisseurs since his debut film, Cakewalk. This was my first association with Ram Kamal, and the way he weaved in the character of Labanya with Utpal (Kaushik Ganguly) and Kalyani (Paoli Dam) in the multilayered plot shows his credentials as a filmmaker,” says Bengal's iconic female superstar, Rituparna Sengupta.

The film also won Best Supporting Actress (Chandrayee Ghosh) at West Bengal Film Journalists Awards 2026.

Also Read: Rian Mukherjee wins Best Child Actor at Los Angeles Film Awards 2026 for Hindi film Manzil

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‘Baby Doll’ singer Kanika Kapoor announces separation from husband Gautam Hathiramani

Singer Kanika Kapoor, who rose to fame with popular tracks such as ‘Baby Doll’, ‘Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan’ and ‘Lovely’, has announced her separation from husband Gautam Hathiramani. The singer took to Instagram on Tuesday night to share an emotional note informing her fans and followers about their decision to part ways. She also requested privacy and understanding as they move forward with their respective lives.

In her Instagram story, Kanika shared a note addressed to her friends and family, confirming that the couple had mutually decided to end their marriage. The note read, “Dear friends and family, after much thought and consideration, my husband and I are going our separate ways.”

Expressing gratitude for the time they spent together, the singer wished Gautam well for the future. She also urged people to respect their privacy during this period. “I sincerely ask for kindness and respect for our privacy as we move forward. Love Kanika,” the note concluded.

Kanika Kapoor's marriages

Kanika's marriage to Gautam Hathiramani was her second. She was previously married to Raj Chandok in 1999. The couple parted ways in 2012 after 13 years of marriage. From her first marriage, Kanika has three children — two daughters, Aayana and Samara, and a son, Yuvraaj.

Years after her divorce, the singer found love again and tied the knot with Gautam in May 2022. Pictures and videos from their wedding celebrations were widely shared on social media at the time, drawing attention from fans and followers. The couple's decision to separate comes after over four years of marriage.

Kanika Kapoor's musical journey

Kanika began her professional singing career after her first divorce and gained widespread recognition with ‘Baby Doll’ from the film Ragini MMS 2, featuring Sunny Leone. The song became a popular hit and also earned her several awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

She went on to lend her voice to several other popular tracks, including ‘Lovely’ from Happy New Year, ‘Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan’ from Roy, ‘Chhil Gaye Naina’ from NH10, ‘Desi Look’ from Ek Paheli Leela and ‘Tukur Tukur’ from Dilwale. Her other songs include ‘Da Da Dasse’ from Udta Punjab, ‘Luv Letter’ from The Legend of Michael Mishra and the Hindi version of ‘Oo Antava Oo Oo Antava’ from Pushpa.

Also Read : Kanika Kapoor’s Me’Gong festival set disrupted by fan storming the stage, adding to a growing trend of troubling celebrity security incidents

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Aditya Roy Kapur and Tara Sutaria's film with Milap Zaveri titled Parwana

Aditya Roy Kapur and Tara Sutaria are set to share screen space for the first time in filmmaker Milap Zaveri's upcoming film, titled Parwana. Described as an intense musical love story, the project marks a new on-screen pairing for the actors. The film will also hold special significance for Zaveri, as he has decided to dedicate it to filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, who passed away recently.

While Parwana marks Tara Sutaria's first collaboration with Aditya Roy Kapur, it also reunites her with Milap Zaveri after their 2019 film Marjaavaan. The upcoming project is expected to explore an intense romantic narrative with music playing a central role.

Milap Zaveri dedicates Parwana to Sanjay Gupta

Speaking about his association with Sanjay Gupta, Milap Zaveri recalled meeting the filmmaker just days before his demise. During their conversation, Zaveri had shared the title of his upcoming film with him, which brought back a personal connection for Gupta.

According to Variety India, Milap said, “We met 10 days ago and I told you the title of my next film. And you jumped in joy and said ‘Milap. The original film with the same title was produced by my father!”

Recalling the filmmaker's reaction, Zaveri added, “The joy I felt at that moment and the pride you felt in me is indescribable,” while confirming that he would dedicate the film to his “Guruji.”

Milap Zaveri and Sanjay Gupta's professional association

Sanjay Gupta played an important role in Milap Zaveri's journey as a filmmaker and writer. Their association extended beyond their professional commitments, with the two sharing a long-standing creative bond. Zaveri worked as a dialogue writer on Gupta's Kaante. Their collaboration continued with projects such as Musafir, Shootout At Lokhandwala and Shootout At Wadala.

Also Read : Tara Sutaria joins Aditya Roy Kapur in Bhushan Kumar’s intense musical love story

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Ramayana: Bombay High Court grants anti-piracy protection to Ranbir Kapoor starrer ahead of November 5 release

With Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 gearing up for its worldwide theatrical release on November 5, the Bombay High Court has granted the film comprehensive legal protection against piracy and unauthorised digital distribution. The order, passed in a commercial suit filed by Godpower Media Private Limited, aims to prevent illegal recording, hosting and circulation of the film and its copyrighted material.

Godpower Media, which holds the domestic and territorial intellectual property and exploitation rights for the film, approached the court seeking protection for several aspects of the project, including its script, character designs, footage, musical compositions, lyrics and audio recordings. The company reportedly expressed concerns over potential copyright violations, pointing out that unauthorised trailer footage had previously surfaced online despite non-disclosure agreements being in place for exclusive preview screenings.

Taking note of the concerns, Justice Madhav Jamdar observed that the plaintiff had a "real and well-founded apprehension" that the film could be subjected to illegal recording, streaming and piracy. The court also considered the substantial financial investment involved in the project. According to the details presented, Ramayana: Part 1 has an estimated budget of Rs. 2,000 crore, while the two-part saga is said to involve a combined investment of Rs. 4,000 crore.

The court consequently passed a dynamic ad-interim injunction restraining unidentified entities, referred to as "John Doe" defendants, along with pirate websites and digital intermediaries, from recording, hosting or communicating the film to the public without authorisation.

The dynamic nature of the injunction allows the makers to notify internet service providers and digital platforms, including Google LLC, about infringing URLs and mirror websites that may emerge. The order enables swift takedown of such links and blocking of domains found to be facilitating unauthorised access to the film.  Legal representatives for Google and other major platforms reportedly recorded "no objection" to the directive and indicated that they would comply upon receiving the necessary notifications. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on December 16.

Produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in association with Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana: Part 1 features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman.

The first instalment of the Nitesh Tiwari directorial, is scheduled to release worldwide in cinemas on November 5, 2026, across multiple Indian and international languages.

Also Read: Ramayana’s November 5 release is a GUTSY move, says trade: “If it manages to sell 6 lakh tickets before release at highest possible ATP, you are easily looking at a Rs. 100 cr plus day 1”

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EXCLUSIVE: Tips Films and Tips Music come on board for Emraan Hashmi’s musical horror film Rooh

Kumar Taurani of Tips Films and Tips Music joins hands with Emraan Hashmi to produce Rooh, a musical horror film that places emotion at the heart of its cinematic vision. Directed by Mayank Sharma and written by Vishal Kapoor and Mayank Sharma, the film offers a theatrical experience that blends horror and romance, with music at the centre of the narrative. Rooh is slated for a 2027 theatrical release across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu markets.

Having headlined several of Hindi cinema's memorable horror films, Emraan returns to the genre with a story that brings back horror and romance, with a strong sense of emotion. For an entire generation, songs from his films have become synonymous with love, heartbreak and nostalgia, often acquiring a life of their own beyond the films. With Rooh, this association takes on a new dimension, bringing together Tips Films' production expertise and Kumar Taurani's musical legacy in a film where music is integral to the storytelling.

Kumar Taurani says, "The association with Emraan is special, as we were also the producers on his debut film Footpath (2003). Over the years, we have had many memorable successes across several films and with Rooh, we are excited to recreate that magic once again. I am also excited to collaborate with Sunny Khanna and Vikram Khakhar on this project and we look forward to bringing the compelling experience of a theatrical film back to the audiences."

Vikram Khakhar, Producer, Vicked Films Productions, said, "Rooh is a very special project for us. Having Tips Films and Tips Music join us is a significant milestone. We are collectively excited to bring an immersive and memorable horror experience to audiences in theatres in 2027."

Sunny Khanna, Producer, said, "We are delighted to have Kumar Taurani and Girissh Kumar join us on Rooh. Their legacy across the film and music industries makes this association particularly exciting, especially for a film in which music plays such an integral role. With this partnership, we look forward to taking Rooh to audiences across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu markets."

Speaking about the film's musical vision, Emraan Hashmi said, "Collaborating with Kumar ji on this film feels serendipitous. Music has always been an integral part of how audiences connect with my films. With Rooh, we want music that captures the soul of the film, which is deeply romantic, haunting and rooted by emotion.”

Rooh is presented by Tips Films and is an A Vicked Films Production. Directed by Mayank Sharma, the film is produced by Kumar Taurani, Girissh Kumar, Vikram Khakhar and Sunny Khanna. Written by Vishal Kapoor and Mayank Sharma, the film is co-produced by Vikas Sahni, with music on Tips Music.

Also Read: Emraan Hashmi returns to horror after 5 years with Rooh, set for 2027 release

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A.R. Rahman becomes the new face of Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea; Oscar-Winning composer launches ‘Awaken Your Masterpiece’ campaign

Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman has been announced as the new brand ambassador of Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea, a brand owned by Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). The association marks a new chapter in the brand’s long-standing connection with music and coincides with the launch of its latest campaign, ‘Awaken Your Masterpiece’, featuring Rahman in a new film.

Known for his contribution to Indian music and his work across international projects, Rahman joins the brand in a partnership centred on creativity, dedication and the pursuit of excellence. Taj Mahal Tea, which has been associated with the idea of fine craftsmanship for over six decades, has built its identity around the phrase ‘Hazaaron Mein Ek’ and its iconic ‘Wah Taj!’ signature. The association with Rahman brings together the worlds of music and tea, with the brand drawing parallels between the composer’s creative process and its own approach to selecting and blending tea leaves.

The new campaign, ‘Awaken Your Masterpiece’, explores the role of taking a purposeful break during the creative process. In the campaign film, Rahman is seen experiencing a creative block before turning to a freshly brewed cup of Taj Mahal Tea. The pause inspires him to rediscover his creative flow, eventually leading to an uplifting melody and a joyful ‘Wah Taj!’. Through the film, the brand highlights how moments of stillness can help creators regain clarity and find inspiration.

Commenting on the association, Ishtpreet Singh, VP Beverages, HUL, said, "Over decades, Taj Mahal Tea and music have been inseparable, a bond that began with the legendary Ustad Zakir Hussain and the iconic 'Wah Taj!'. As we carry that legacy forward, there could be no better custodian than A.R. Rahman, an artist whose genius is truly one in a thousand. Just as his music comes from finding the perfect note among countless possibilities, every cup of Taj Mahal is crafted from tea leaves carefully selected from thousands, blended to create a taste that stands apart. That is what makes Taj Mahal Tea Hazaaron Mein Ek 'Wah Taj!'."

Speaking about the creative direction behind the campaign, Harshad Rajadhyaksha and Kainaz Karmakar, Group Chief Creative Officers, Ogilvy India, said, "Music and Taj Mahal Chai have been inseparable. It has been a beautiful journey of building a brand with music at its core and we're thrilled to partner with A R Rahman this year. The brand story of finesse and the search for excellence sits really well with everything that A R Rahman stands for. The campaign is led by our team, Fritz Gonsalves and Jayesh Raut. The film is shot by Prakash Varma (Nirvana films), who has been an integral part of the visual language of the brand for over a decade now."

The campaign continues Taj Mahal Tea’s association with music, which previously featured legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. With Rahman now joining the brand, the latest initiative seeks to extend that legacy by celebrating creativity and the pursuit of artistic excellence.

The new ‘Awaken Your Masterpiece’ campaign film is now live across Taj Mahal Tea’s digital and marketing platforms.

Also Read: AR Rahman calls Ramayana his biggest film yet, says soundtrack took 3.5 years to develop; speaks on collaborating with Hans Zimmer

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