Awarapan 2 teaser to drop on original film’s 19th anniversary? Here's what we know

Awarapan 2 is finally stepping into the limelight, and fans have a date to mark: June 29, 2026. That's when the first teaser drops, on the 19th anniversary of the original film. Emraan Hashmi returns as Shivam Pandit, the brooding antihero who's still a cult favorite. Producer Vishesh Bhatt is kicking things off with a digital logo reveal to set the stage, and that event will make the teaser date official. From there, the team is rolling out a blitz of promotions all the way up to the film's big release on August 14, right before Independence Day.

The Return Of Shivam Pandit?

The logo reveal isn't just a marketing move, it's Bhatt's way of tapping into the nostalgia that made Awarapan special in 2007. It's not just the story that made Awarapan iconic. The music is coming back, too. After the teaser, the next big reveal is the soundtrack. Mithoon and Sayeed Quadri return to rework the unforgettable tracks "Toh Phir Aao" and "Tera Mera Rishta," while sneaking in a brand-new song for the sequel. For everyone who wore out their old heartbreak playlists with these tracks, this feels huge.

Everything About Awarapan 2?

Nitin Kakkar, known for films like Filmistaan, Notebook, and Ram Singh Charlie, directs this time. Emraan Hashmi leads the cast again, joined by Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi. The movie sticks to its roots as a music-driven action drama, hoping to strike a familiar chord. Releasing worldwide on August 14 under Vishesh Films, Awarapan 2 is leaning hard into nostalgia but aiming to win a whole new crowd, too. Can Hashmi's Shivam Pandit catch lightning in a bottle twice? We'll get our first real look on June 29.

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IIFA Connex: Pankaj Tripathi lauds IIFA 2026 for being 'beautiful celebration of cinema', Dia Mirza explains why it is special

The excitement is clearly building for IIFA 2026, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend & Awards. And the world's most talked about celebration of Indian cinema concluded the second edition of IIFA Connex recently. For the unversed, IIFA Connex is quickly emerging as the industry's go-to networking and thought leadership platform. And as expected, it saw the attendance of some of the biggest names from the worlds of entertainment, technology, media, and business. Over interesting conversations, industry leaders managed to explored one big question - What does the future of entertainment look like, and how will India help shape it? This edition was organised around the themed 'The Infinite Audience: How Streaming, Creators & Technology are Shaping the Future of Entertainment' and it featured an impressive panel of voices who have played a crucial role in redefining the global content landscape.

Popular actor Pankaj Tripathi - who is often lauded for his versatile acting and impactful storytelling, said, "IIFA has always been a beautiful celebration of cinema and storytelling, and IIFA Connex is a wonderful initiative that brings people together for meaningful conversations beyond films. It was lovely to be part of 'The Infinite Audience' and discuss how streaming, creators and technology are changing the way we connect with audiences today. I truly enjoyed the exchange of thoughts and the warmth of sharing the stage with such inspiring voices. Evenings like these remind us how entertainment continues to evolve while still keeping human connection at its heart."

Dia Mirza, who isn't just an impeccable actress, but also an environmental advocate, moderated the session and said, "IIFA has always held a special place in my journey, and it's wonderful to see how IIFA Connex is creating such relevant and forward-looking conversations for the entertainment fraternity. Hosting 'The Infinite Audience' panel was truly special, as we explored how streaming platforms, creators, and emerging technologies are reshaping the future of storytelling and content consumption. The energy in the room and the perspectives shared by industry leaders made it an incredibly enriching experience. This edition beautifully highlighted how dynamically India is influencing global entertainment and creative trends. IIFA Connex is a fantastic initiative that brings the industry together beyond the celebrations, creating meaningful dialogue around the future of the art and business we all deeply care about."

While talking about her take on India's rapidly evolving content ecosystem, Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director, YouTube India, said, "The way India creates and consumes content is experiencing a generational shift. We are witnessing an incredible era of cultural convergence where independent creators are marrying agility with studio-level craftsmanship on the biggest screens in our homes. I am thrilled to join IIFA Connex to explore how world-class stories are building deep audience trust and redefining entertainment in this screen-agnostic digital age."

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Welcome to the Jungle box office collection day 1: Akshay Kumar-starrer earns Rs 18 crore, beats THIS film's opening day collection

Welcome to the Jungle box office collection day 1: Ahmed Khan's much-awaited film Welcome to the Jungle which features over 30 actors has been making headlines since its trailer released. The film - which was released in theatres on June 26 opened to mixed reviews - is the franchise's third instalment. Since the previous films had done well, expectations from the recent release have been high. The film features Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez and others in lead roles. Even though the film had mixed reviews, it was successful in registering a decent start at the box office.

Welcome to the Jungle box office collection update

Going by the trade website Sacnilk, Welcome to the Jungle earned Rs 3.75 crore from its paid premieres on Thursday. On Friday, the film was able to rake in Rs 15 crore, and witnessed an occupancy of 25%, courtesy 10,890 shows. With this, the film's opening collection stood at RS 18.75. With this collection, the recent release managed to surpass Akshay's previous film, Bhooth Bangla. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film's opening net collection stood at Rs 12.25 crore in India from 12,386 shows. Along with the premiere collection of Rs 3.75 crore, the film managed to earn Rs 16 crore in totality. His other film Jolly LLB 3 earned Rs 12.50 crore on day 1.

Raveena Tandon on reuniting with Akshay Kumar after 22 years

After over 22 years, Raveena Tandon and Akshay Kumar shared screen space again in Welcome To The Jungle. They were last seen together in Police Force: An Inside Story in 2004.

For Raveena, working with Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and director Ahmed Khan was almost like a reunion of old friends than work. "It's been wonderful to get back to working with Sunil and Akshay again, and Ahmed. We are all such old friends and have known each other for so long. And Farida ji has played my mother in Ziddi and many other films. So, it was that camaraderie of all of us knowing each other for the longest time. There was such a comfort level that we literally sat on chairs and mucked about, even with Paresh. I think that was very enjoyable," Raveena told NDTV. She added, "In Akshay, I can say that he was and is a very dedicated artist, and he always will be. The amount of input he gives to a film - the only change is that maybe now it has doubled. Earlier, when we came into the industry, we were young and still learning. But now, he has mastered his craft. He has become a master of his craft."

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Welcome To The Jungle X review: Akshay Kumar delivers BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINER; fans laud Farida Jalal, Rajpal Yadav, Kiran Kumar

Welcome To The Jungle X review: Akshay Kumar is back on the big screen with Welcome To The Jungle, the latest and most star-studded chapter in the popular Welcome franchise. Directed by Ahmed Khan, the film promises the same over-the-top comedy, chaos, and entertainment that made the earlier films such crowd favourites. The cast is massive and loaded with familiar faces. Along with Akshay, the film brings together Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Farida Jalal, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, Krushna Abhishek, and Kiku Sharda. Several other supporting actors and special appearances add to the already packed ensemble.

This new installment comes right after Akshay's recent hit Bhooth Bangla, which crossed over Rs 270 crore in India. That success has naturally raised expectations, and fans are hoping

Welcome To The Jungle can deliver the same kind of mass entertainment and laughter.

The makers have also arranged paid preview shows on Thursday, giving eager fans a chance to watch the film a day early. Early reactions from those who attended the previews are starting to surface online, with many sharing their thoughts and excitement on social media.

Welcome To The Jungle Twitter review

Calling the film absolute brain rot, a user wrote, "#WelcomeToTheJungle is the most nonsensical, brain rot film of the year and that's probably its biggest strength. Rating: 2.5 You've already seen the trailer and you know exactly what to expect. It may not be a good film, but it turned out to be slightly better than I expected. This madness is driven by three aces: 1. #AkshayKumar, who is in top form and genuinely makes you laugh most of the time, 2. Meta references to some of our favourite comedy films that we grew up watching, 3. Slapstick one liners that, when they land, work quite well..."

#WelcomeToTheJungle is the most nonsensical, brain rot film of the year and that's probably its biggest strength.

Rating: 2.5

You've already seen the trailer and you know exactly what to expect. It may not be a good film, but it turned out to be slightly better than I pic.twitter.com/fuCUqYOJoh

Aavishkar (@aavishhkar) June 25, 2026

Another wrote, "#WelcomeToTheJungle - Akshay Kumar's grand entry is pure goosebumps! At 59, how can someone look this stylish and fit? The moment he walks in with the massive explosion in the background, the swag, the aura, and the screen presence are on another level..."

#WelcomeToTheJungle - Akshay Kumar's grand entry is pure goosebumps! ?

At 59, how can someone look this stylish and fit? The moment he walks in with the massive explosion in the background, the swag, the aura, and the screen presence are on another level.

This is one of Akshay pic.twitter.com/lLiCrh1WBy

Ravi Chaudhary (@BURN4DESIRE1) June 25, 2026

A third wrote, "The film has a lot more to offer than what the trailer suggested. The first 15 minutes are excellent and the introduction of each of the main actors is done very nicely. The main highlight is 30 minutes leading to the interval..."

Welcome To The Jungle Review INTERVAL REPORT

The film has a lot more to offer than what the trailer suggested. The first 15 minutes are excellent and the introduction of each of the main actors is done very nicely. The main highlight is 30 minutes leading to the interval. There pic.twitter.com/7VyVaaJRJ4

Jeet (@JeetN25) June 25, 2026

Welcome To The Jungle advance booking

Before its theatrical debut, advance bookings for Welcome to the Jungle had a slow start but are now steadily increasing. Positive word-of-mouth and nostalgia related to the Welcome brand, according to trade analysts, should increase its opening-day receipts.

Film trade analyst Komal Nahta told SCREEN, "The advance bookings are looking alright. Nothing to shout about, but nothing too bad either."

He added, "Welcome franchise is loved by the public, so it's expected to do well. The trailer was okay, nothing great. But, the trailer that they cut yesterday, which showcased action more than comedy, is better."

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Cocktail 2 Box Office collection day 7: Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika's film WRAPS UP week 1 with strong numbers

Cocktail 2 box office collection day 7: Homi Adajania's romantic comedy Cocktail 2, with Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles, has apparently finished its first week at the cinema screens. The movie, which started with mixed reactions from viewers and critics, somehow still pulled off a decent run and, you know, crossed a big worldwide checkpoint. By the seventh day, Cocktail 2 saw a 21% dip from the day before, and raked in Rs 4.15 crore across 8,469 showings. This takes its total India net collection to Rs 70.40 crore and the India gross to Rs 83.95 crore after one full week.

Cocktail 2 box office collection

Overseas, the movie added Rs 1 crore on Day 7, pushing its international gross to Rs 25 crore. The current worldwide gross collection now stands at Rs 108.95 crore. As a spiritual sequel to the 2012 cult favourite Cocktail (which starred Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty), the new film brings a completely fresh story and a younger cast. Homi Adajania returns as director, and the movie also features veteran actor Tiku Talsania in a pivotal role, along with a special cameo by Pulkit Samrat.

About Cocktail 2

The story follows college sweethearts Kunal (Shahid Kapoor) and Diya Reddy (Rashmika Mandanna), whose hesitations about marriage are tested during a vacation in Sicily. Things take a complicated turn when they meet Diya's friend Ally, played by Kriti Sanon, setting off an emotionally charged love triangle filmed across the scenic backdrops of London and Cape Town.

The film hit theatres on June 19, 2026, and has benefited from a relatively clear box office window with no major Hindi releases competing directly against it. While the weekdays have shown that usual drop, the overall first-week picture looks still pretty encouraging, at least for a romantic drama in today's market.

That fresh pairing of Shahid, Kriti, and Rashmika has clearly worked in its favour, and a lot of people seem to be enjoying their chemistry, also the film's light-hearted, emotional vibe. It feels like the mood is easy on the nerves, not overly heavy, and that probably helps word-of-mouth spread faster than expected. If this kind of positive buzz keeps going, Cocktail 2 may manage a decent second weekend and then keep its momentum through the coming weeks.

For now, crossing the Rs 100 crore worldwide mark in the first week is a solid achievement. The movie also gives Bollywood a much-needed entertaining release, one that seems to connect with audiences who are basically looking for a fun, breezy experience, rather than something too serious.

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Lock Upp Sach Ya Sazaa: Omung Kumar on the vision behind designing the set [Exclusive]

In an exclusive interview, Omung Kumar speaks about the creative process behind the set design of Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa. Kumar, who is known for his larger-than-life production designs, explains how the set was conceptualised to be more than just a backdrop, but an active participant in the show's narrative.

The design team sought to create a space that would heighten the psychological intensity of the reality series, drawing inspiration from themes of confinement, accountability and emotional conflict. Every detail, from the large buildings and thoughtfully designed spaces to the dramatic lighting and symbolic images, was created to strengthen the unique atmosphere of the show. From the intense jail cells to the massive arena and living areas, everything is bigger, bolder, and more dramatic this season! With Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh taking charge as the jailers, expect entertainment, drama, and unexpected twists like never before. Streaming from 27 June onwards, only on Netflix.

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Main Vaapas Aaunga Box Office collection day 13: Diljit Dosanjh's partition drama DEFIES competition, crosses Rs 50 crore globally

Main Vaapas Aaunga box office collection day 13: Imtiaz Ali's heartfelt partition drama Main Vaapas Aaunga, starring Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari, Vedang Raina, and Naseeruddin Shah, is turning out to be a classic slow-burner at the box office. While it had a modest first week, the film has shown a clear and encouraging recovery in its second week, largely driven by strong word-of-mouth and genuine audience appreciation.

Main Vaapas Aaunga box office collection

The movie opened to positive reviews but relatively low numbers, collecting Rs 12.25 crore in its first week. However, the second week has told a much better story as more people discovered the film through recommendations. On Day 13 (second Wednesday), it witnessed a 16.1% drop from the previous day, earning Rs 2.60 crore across 2,923 shows, according to Sacnilk. This takes its total India net collection to Rs 32.45 crore and the India gross to Rs 38.63 crore so far.

Main Vaapas Aaunga worldwide collection

Overseas, the film added Rs 40 lakh on Day 13, pushing its international gross to Rs 13.15 crore. The current worldwide gross collection now stands at Rs 51.78 crore.

Main Vaapas Aaunga vs Cocktail 2

Main Vaapas Aaunga is currently facing competition from Homi Adajania's Cocktail 2, which was released last week and is doing well. Despite sharing screens, Imtiaz Ali's film is holding its own, thanks to its emotional depth and strong performances.

About Main Vaapas Aaunga

The story follows a deeply moving love tale set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition of India. Apart from the lead cast, it also features Sanjay Suri, Rajat Kapoor, Kumud Mishra, Banita Sandhu, Danish Pandor, Jaipreet Singh, Dolly Ahluwalia, Vinod Nagpal, Manish Chaudhary, Anjana Sukhani, Rasika Agashe, Mashhoor Amrohi, and Nikhat Khan in supporting roles.

Directed by Imtiaz Ali and released on June 12, 2026, the film is the kind of cinema that often grows gradually rather than exploding at the start. Positive word of mouth is really helping it reach a wider audience in its second week. There are no big fresh Bollywood releases right now, not really, that are immediately threatening its run, so Main Vaapas Aaunga has a decent opening ahead to keep the momentum going.

For a period drama that brings emotional weight, plus strong performances, this kind of steady growth is a good omen. If the pattern holds, the film might become a meaningful hit, showing once again that well-told stories with heart still find their people over time.

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Samantha Ruth Prabhu confirms pregnancy, reveals her plan to taking career pause and going on maternity leave

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has finally confirmed the most exciting personal news. The actress has put an end to weeks of speculation and said that both she and her husband, Raj Nidimoru, are expecting their first child together. Samantha was speaking to the media during the success celebrations of her latest film, Maa Inti Bangaaram, when she confirmed that she will be taking a maternity break after finishing her current work commitments. Even as she prepares for a new chapter in her personal life, Samantha assured fans that this isn't goodbye.

#Samantha Has officially confirmed her pregnancy #MaaIntiBangaaram #RajNidimoru pic.twitter.com/HEsFMf3zhX

— IndiaGlitz Telugu (@igtelugu) June 24, 2026

What did Samantha say?

While confirming the news of her pregnancy, Samantha said, "I will have to take a small break after Maa Inti Bangaaram because of my condition. I will come back to do films. I'm taking maternity leave." "Then I will come back with another film for my fans," she added.

What fuelled Samantha pregnancy speculation?

Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu made heads turn when the speculation kicked off following the success celebration of her latest film, Mahinti Bangaram. The success event took place on June 19. During the event, Samantha cut the cake, posed for photos, and spoke to guests alongside her husband, filmmaker Raj Nidimuru. Soon after the celebration, several videos from the event went viral. And netizens were quick to notice the baby bump. This further resulted in widespread speculation regarding the actress's pregnancy. Within minutes reactions from fans flooded the social media. One comment said, "Wow, congratulations. She is pregnant". Another person said, "Yes, finally got tripled. She's pregnant. It is visible clearly. So happy for her. Just tears are rolling in my eyes right now."

Samantha thanks fans, drops BTS video

Samantha recently took to Instagram to put out a BTS video of her latest Telugu release, Maa Inti Bangaaram. Her caption read, "This was the journey, thank you for loving it."

The BTS clip focused on the preparation that went into performing the film's action sequences. Several frames featured her husband, screenplay writer and producer of Maa Inti Bangaaram, Raj Nidimoru, directing scenes. They are seen helping Samantha prepare to perform the sequences. Maa Inti Bangaaram had an impressive start at the box office, and earned over Rs 12 crore in India. It also crossed the Rs 25 crore mark worldwide within just two days. On Day 6, the film's gross India collection stood at Rs 36.92 crore.

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