Alia Bhatt raises concerns over male-centric box office trends in Indian cinema: Why do we have to alienate anyone?

Alia Bhatt is busy making headlines at Cannes Film Festival 2026. Interestingly, this isn't just restricted to her gorgeous red carpet look. The focus is also on her honest take on the film industry. The actor was recently asked why Indian cinema is still so focused on catering to male audiences at the box office. Alia was quick to react, and said that she too finds herself wondering why so many discussions around films are based on making content for men. Her comments have led to fresh discussions online. This time around, it is about gender representation in Indian cinema.

What did Alia Bhatt say on Indian cinema?

During a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter India on the sidelines of the ongoing Cannes film festival, Alia questioned why box office success in Indian cinema is driven by films that just cater to one gender. She referred to the success of films including Barbie, Wuthering Heights and The Devil Wears Prada 2, and questioned why Indian cinema only focuses on working in accordance with the preferences of male audience. "When I look at the landscape, I think we're in a very fascinating time today If you take a look at the box office, you'll see the films that have done phenomenally well: Barbie, Wuthering Heights, and The Devil Wears Prada. These are a few; I am sure there are way more, and their main audience, perhaps, was women. Women were showing up, watching these films, which have now become massive hits," Alia said in a recent chat with THR.

While sharing her thoughts on Indian cinema, Alia further stated, "But in India, when we talk about box office and numbers, there is a conversation that comes up pretty often, which is 75% of the movie-going audience is male, so we need to cater to the masses. This conversation comes up quite a bit. I wonder if we are catering just to the men, then what happens to the women? I am saying the alienate the men, but why do we have to alienate anyone? Why do we have to cater to one gender? Why can't we make movies that are gender-agnostic, where the storytelling takes centre stage? So, whether it stars a man or a woman, that should not matter. It is the storytelling that should matter. I'm just hoping we have more of that."

Decoding Alia Bhatt's Cannes red carpet look

For her second outing at Cannes Film Festival 2026, Alia Bhatt made heads turn in a blush pink strapless gown. While the structured corset helped the silhouette get sculpted edge, while soft drapes floated around the arms. Alia finished the look by wearing a pink gemstone necklace and matching earrings. She opted for minimal makeup which included nude lips, soft eyes and styled her hair in loose waves.

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SCOOP: Shahid Kapoor in talks to join Varun Dhawan in Anees Bazmee directed No Entry 2

Shahid Kapoor is among the most celebrated actors of Hindi Cinema, who is gearing up for the release of Cocktail 2. Known for his phenomenal acting talent, the actor was in talks with Anees Bazmee for a comic caper titled Ram Aur Shyam. But the film didn't materialise due to reasons best known to the stakeholders.

But the latest we hear is that the combo might team up for the first time soon. According to reliable sources, Anees Bazmee is in talks with Shahid Kapoor to come on board the sequel to his 2005 cult comedy, No Entry. "While Varun Dhawan is locked to play one of the three leads, the makers have initiated a conversation with Shahid Kapoor. The actor has heard the basic idea and will soon take the complete narration," a source informed Bollywood Hungama.

The source further informs that if Shahid agrees, this could mark the first ever collaboration of two of the most talented actors of the last 2 decades - Shahid Kapoor and Varun Dhawan. The dynamic shared by the two in the film will be similar to what Salman Khan and Aamir Khan shared in Andaz Apna Apna. "It's No Entry but with a twist. The producer Boney Kapoor is trying to take things a notch higher by getting Varun and Shahid together."

If everything goes as planned, No Entry 2 will go on floors towards the end of 2026 with a marathon schedule.

Also Read: Shahid Kapoor teams up with Amit Sharma for romantic comedy; Kiara Advani and Janhvi Kapoor in talks: Report

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Cannes 2026: Alia Bhatt serves ELEGANCE and high fashion at red carpet in VIRAL peach couture gown

Alia Bhatt finally made her much-awaited debut at the Cannes Film Festival, and she absolutely lit up the red carpet. Representing L'Or al Paris at the opening ceremony on May 12, the actress turned heads in a breathtaking custom peach couture gown designed by Tamara Ralph, styled by Rhea Kapoor.

Alia Bhatt Cannes look

The strapless, body-hugging gown featured a sculpted sweetheart neckline with a delicate plunging illusion detail right at the centre. What really made it special were the soft chiffon drapes that flowed gracefully from the silhouette, giving it a dreamy, cinematic movement every time she walked. The soft pastel peach shade created a romantic atmosphere which the structured cuts and elegant draping maintained their sophisticated appearance through their lack of decorative accents.

She wore the gown with an exquisite necklace that combined coral and diamond accents and displayed peach-colored gemstones together with an elegant pendant that shone when exposed to light. Alia chose to create her makeup look through peach-pink tones which gave her face a soft radiant appearance while she applied subtle shimmer to her eyes and glossy nude lipstick which made her look fresh yet sophisticated.

Alia's Riviera-inspired look turns heads

Earlier in the day, she opted for another gorgeous look- a structured corset-style gown with delicate spaghetti straps and a soft sweetheart neckline from designer Yash Patil's 'That Antique Piece' collection. In muted sage-green tones, the outfit featured intricate botanical embroidery and a hand-painted tribute to the French Riviera that blended beautifully into the voluminous skirt. She kept the styling minimal with a soft, undone low bun, luminous skin, subtle makeup, and delicate Chopard jewellery. A pair of classic neutral mules from Manolo Blahnik rounded off the look effortlessly.

Rhea Kapoor, who styled both outfits, shared some lovely glimpses and details from Alia's appearances on social media.

This marks Alia's second consecutive year at Cannes as a global ambassador for L'Or al Paris. She had made her debut at the prestigious festival last year, where she turned heads in a custom Schiaparelli gown. This time around, she once again proved why she's one of Bollywood's most stylish and confident stars on the international stage.

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Who is Basuri Chokshi? Artist behind Alia Bhatt's DREAMY Cannes 2026 gown goes VIRAL

Cannes 2026: The actual beauty was occurring in the delicate, lavender-hued brushstrokes that slid across the silk organza, while everyone else was preoccupied with deciphering the "ABK" embroidered on Alia Bhatt's Cannes gown bag. You're not too far off if you thought that clothing belonged in a dream. Meet Basuri Chokshi, a painter and muralist from Ahmedabad who just shown that hand-painted high fashion is superior.

From designing walls to creating art

Not all of Basuri's paintings were for the red carpet. She was trained as an interior designer and spent her early years studying buildings and silos. However, art had a subdued role in her life, from her mother's regular replacement of the pichhwai paintings in their house shrine to her father's meticulous jewellery designs.

She discovered she would want to be on the walls rather than merely creating them in 2012 while practicing interior design. She decided to switch to acrylic paints and never looked back.

Basuri's art brings nature to couture

A careful examination of Alia's gown reveals the hallmarks of Basuri's distinctive design, which is a tribute to the Riviera's floral elements and natural beauty. She views these topics as windows into the complex mysteries and beauties of nature. Her method is the same whether she's working on a 2,000-square-foot, two-story mural or a few meters of delicate silk for a worldwide icon: meticulous planning, skillful execution, and a palette so gentle it draws you in without ever demanding your attention.

Yash Patil turned art into couture magic

Corset expert Yash Patil and his own company, That Antiquepiece, transformed Alia Bhatt's hand-painted garment into a stunning gown, transforming every piece of fabric into a wearable work of art. He and Alia have already worked together, and the actress was spotted for a magazine cover shoot wearing the brand's sculpted Metallic Gota jacket with silk fringed lapel and Leo-draped silk organza corset. Bollywood stars like Sobhita Dhulipala and Bhumi Pednekar have also worn Patil's famous, sculpted corsets.

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Mouni Roy and husband Suraj Nambiar heading for separation? Fans shocked after THIS incident goes viral

Rumours around the marriage of Mouni Roy and her husband Suraj Nambiar have started making headlines after fans noticed a shocking and unexpected move in their social media activity. Speculation of the two parting ways started doing the rounds when many noticed that they had allegedly unfollowed each other on Instagram. This has further led to chatter about trouble in their relationship. However, neither Mouni nor Suraj has addressed the rumours yet. Many are wondering what could be the reason for Mouni and Suraj to take such a step. Some users have posted, "Are they parting ways?"

When did Mouni Roy, Suraj Nambiar get married?

Mouni Roy and Suraj Nambiar tied the knot on January 27 in accordance with Malayali and Bengali rituals. While Mouni hails from Cooch Behar in West Bengal, Suraj is a banker and businessman based out of Dubai. He belongs to Jain family from Bengaluru.

When did Mouni and Suraj met for first time?

In a video message that Mouni Roy's husband Suraj Nambiar sent on DID L'il Masters Season 5, he recalled his first meeting with the actress. He had Mouni in 2018 during a party with his friends. As he said, he couldn't take his eyes off her. One of Mouni's friends helped him start a conversation with her, and they ended up exchanging numbers.

Gradually, they started dating each other and one day, when Mouni, he, and a couple of friends went on a vacation, he planned a little surprise for her. "She didn't have any idea that I was about to propose to her, but I arranged for her favorite song to play in the background, and with a beautiful sunset in the backdrop, I proposed to her. It's been three months now since the time we got married, and I must say that it has been a lot of fun being with her," he said.

Mouni called Suraj her inspiration

Mouni had revealed on the show that Suraj played a key role in inspiring her in life. As she said, Before meeting Suraj, she was a bit lost. However, Suraj showed her the right path to live her life. "He mentioned to me that I need to broaden my mind, be present in the current scheme of things, and look for the magic. I believe he is someone who introduced me to the true magic of life, and I am so grateful to have him in my life. He is my soulmate, and I love him so much," Mouni said on the show.

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EXCLUSIVE: Vikram Bhatt ecstatic as his daughter Krishna is blessed with a baby boy: “She insisted on working on Haunted – Echoes Of The Past even while going into the OT…all the people who wished her ill have FAILED”

Krishna Bhatt, the daughter of Vikram Bhatt, was blessed with a baby boy on Monday, May 11. The same day, Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to the director about how he feels about being a nana.

Vikram Bhatt joked, “Yes, I am a nana now. Ab main dadagiri kar sakta hoon!” On a serious note, he said, “I am very tired. We didn’t sleep all night and we’ve been working all day. It hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Krishna Bhatt is married to businessman Vedant Sarda. The couple tied the knot on June 11, 2023. When asked how the mother and son are doing, Vikram Bhatt replied, “Krishna and the baby both are fine. She insisted on working on Haunted – Echoes Of The Past even while going into the OT (Operation theatre). I call her ‘QC’ (Quality Check)! She always insists, ‘I want to see all the shots. Don’t okay anything without QC’.”

Vikram continued, “I am happy for her. It wasn’t easy for a girl who spent her pregnancy running around. She was mentioned in the FIR, but thankfully, the chargesheet didn’t include her name. The poor thing was stressed and had a miserable pregnancy. To all the people who wished her ill, I want to tell them – you all failed.”

Does he feel that the baby would start a new chapter in Vikram Bhatt’s life? The veteran filmmaker smiled and replied, “I don’t know. I am the grandfather. I hope it starts a new chapter in the parents’ lives. We have already lived most of our lives.”

Recently, Bollywood Hungama wrote about a public notice issued by CA Bharati Manoj Daga, Resolution Professional of Hare Krishna Media Tech Pvt. Ltd., in the May 9, 2026 issue of Atul Mohan’s Complete Cinema magazine, cautioning the Indian film trade and industry against proceeding with the release, distribution, exhibition, streaming, promotion or commercial exploitation of the upcoming film Haunted – Echoes Of The Past, amid the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) status quo order. On this, Vikram Bhatt simply said, “The lawyer is making a statement on it. All I can say is that it’s baseless.”

Finally, he gave an update about the promotions of Haunted – Echoes Of The Past, scheduled for a release on June 12, “A song is coming out on May 13. It's going to be good news from my end now. Enough of the bad!”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Haunted – Echoes Of The Past to release in Tamil and Telugu; Vikram Bhatt says “ONLY Hindi star accepted in the South is horror”; also reveals he was on the pan-India bandwagon before it became cool: “1920 was dubbed in Telugu and even in English!”

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Raja Shivaji box office collection day 11: Riteish Deshmukh’s historical epic earns Rs 18.50 crore in second weekend, eyes Rs 100 crore milestone

Raja Shivaji box office collection day 11: The much-awaited biopic on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had released over 11 days back on May 1. The film - which features Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has also been directed by the actor himself. Produced by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, the film delves deeper into the life and legacy of the Maratha warrior king. If the box office collection has to go by, the film managed to rake in the moolah in Marathi market as compared to its Hindi version. It witnessed a strong opening at the box office, but the collection dropped during the weekdays. Read on to know about its collection on day 11.

Raja Shivaji box office collection day 11 update

According to Sacnilk, Raja Shivaji, the film witnessed a drop in its collection on day 11. On day 11, the film could collect Rs 2.40 crore at the box office. Compared to other days, Raja Shivaji's earnings on Monday dipped by 64.7 per cent. After Monday, the film managed to cross the Rs 70 crore mark. It was able to collect Rs 70.65 crore in India. The film's gross collection stood at Rs 83.80 crore. While its Hindi version earned Rs 50 lakh with about 9 per cent occupancy, its Marathi version could only rake in Rs 1.90 crore and featured 23 per cent occupancy. During the second weekend, Raja Shivaji earned Rs 15.60 crore. However, the collections further dipped on Monday. After witnessing these numbers, the film's journey to the bigger collection at the box office doesn't look easy. In the Marathi version, Raja Shivaji has been a clear winner.

Raja Shivaji box office collection day 10 update

As reported by Sacnilk, Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji made Rs 6.80 crore on day 10. It did show an increase in earnings on Sunday. On day 9, the film could earn Rs 5.69 crore. For the unversed, the film had raked in Rs 11.35 crore on its opening day. The film's earnings dropped during the weekdays, and managed to collect Rs 5.60 crore on first Monday. On first Tuesday and Wednesday, Raja Shivaji earned Rs 4.90 crore and Rs 4.25 crore, respectively.

Abhishek Bachchan reacts to reports about his fees for Raja Shivaji

Abhishek Bachchan has shared his thoughts on reports about the fee he and his co-stars allegedly demanded for Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji, and said such claims are false.

In a recent chat, Abhishek Bachchan mentioned that actors are willing to reduce or waive their fees if they believe in a vision. "In today's day and age, there are all these reels where people talk about facts and figures," he said. He added, "The media loves to talk about an actor or an actress charging so much money and demanding for these many vans but at the end of the day, it's an art form that starts from the heart. We've no problems waiving anything off if we believe in something. It's not a transaction. It's an emotional transaction. You've to be inspired. That's how art starts."

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Dhurandhar 2 box office collection day 54: Ranveer Singh film's India gross collection amounts to Rs 1,368.12 crore; worldwide earnings cross...

Dhurandhar: The Revenge box office collection day 54: Dhurandhar 2 - featuring Ranveer Singh in the lead role - is nearing the end of its theatrical run after enjoying an incredible run at the box office. The much-appreciated spy action drama has been directed by Aditya Dhar. Even though Dhurandhar 2 witnessed a gradual drop in collections, it managed to maintain a strong hold at the Hindi box office. Read on to know about its current earnings.

Dhurandhar 2 box office collection day 54 update

As reported by Sacnilk.com, Ranveer Singh's film is currently running across 75 shows and has managed to collect a net of Rs 0.01 Cr today (as of 10 am). This brings total India gross collections to Rs 1,368.12 Cr and total India net to Rs 1,143.10 Cr so far. The film's India final collections are yet to be reported.

Dhurandhar 2 box office collection weekly update

As reported by Sacnilk, the film's revenue stood at Rs 674.17Cr during first week. In second week, the film's collection dropped to Rs 263.65Cr. In third and fourth week, the film's earnings amounted to Rs 110.60Cr and Rs 54.70Cr respectively. During week 5, the film's collection had dropped to Rs 19.52Cr, it further dropped to Rs 12.45 crore and Rs 5.58 crore during week 6 and 7 respectively.

Dhurandhar 2 box office collection day 53 update

According to trade reports, the movie's collection has soared to Rs 1795 crore worldwide during its 8th weekend. Released on March 19, the film had earned Rs 1.10 crore on day 53 (8th Sunday), through 733 shows. This shows a 22.2 percent increase from Saturday's net collection of Rs 0.90 crore. Following this, India's gross collection has risen to Rs 1,368.10 crore. The film's gross worldwide collection on Sunday has amounted to Rs 1,794.65 crore. This includes total overseas collection of Rs 426.55 crore. This was earned after the film added Rs 0.05 crore to the overseas revenue on day 53.

Is Dhurandhar 3 in works?

Amid massive speculations about the next part of the franchise, Jio Studios co-producer Jyoti Deshpande recently hinted that a surprise is being planned for fans. In a recent chat with Bollywood Hungama, Jyoti Deshpande said, "We're not done with Dhurandhar yet. We'll hopefully have a surprise for the audience later this year. There's something up our sleeves". Her statement has created massive excitement among fans. Many are already wondering if the third part in the franchise is already under production. Even though Jyoti Deshpande told viewers that there is more to the films, she did not divulge any details about the upcoming surprise.

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