Kiara Advani To Headline The Biopic Of Legendary Actress Madhubala

By Sacnilk Team
March 7, 2026 at 1:39 PM IST
1.8K
2 min read
Kiara Advani To Headline The Biopic Of Legendary Actress Madhubala

Mumbai, March 7 – Bollywood star Kiara Advani is set to portray legendary actress Madhubala in an upcoming biographical film based on the life of the iconic star of Hindi cinema. The project, which had earlier faced delays due to budget constraints, has now been revived with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali coming on board as producer.

According to a report by Variety India, the film will be directed by Jasmeet K. Reen, best known for directing the critically acclaimed film Darlings, starring Alia Bhatt. The makers are reportedly planning to begin shooting for the biopic later this year.

The film will chronicle Madhubala's extraordinary journey in the film industry, from her rise as one of the most enchanting stars of Indian cinema to the personal challenges she faced away from the spotlight. Often referred to as the "Venus of Indian Cinema," Madhubala remains one of the most celebrated actresses in Bollywood history.

Apart from highlighting her illustrious career, the biopic is also expected to explore important chapters of Madhubala's personal life, including her relationships with legendary actors Dilip Kumar and Kishore Kumar. The casting for the roles of Dilip Kumar and Kishore Kumar is currently underway.

Interestingly, portraying Madhubala has long been a dream role for Kiara Advani. The actress had previously expressed her admiration for the legendary star and her desire to bring the icon's story to the big screen. With the project now reportedly moving forward, the film is expected to become one of the most ambitious biographical dramas in recent times.

Meanwhile, Kiara Advani will next be seen in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, starring Yash. It is scheduled for release on June 4 this year. If everything goes as planned, the Madhubala biopic will mark a major milestone in Kiara Advani's career, allowing her to portray one of the most captivating personalities in the history of Indian cinema.

Stay tuned...

Published on March 7, 2026 at 8:09 AM

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BY SACNILK

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has effectively rewritten the rulebook for what a blockbuster looks like in today's era. By sailing past the 1,800 crore mark globally, it has not just overtaken legends like Baahubali 2 and Pushpa 2, but it has essentially provided a much-needed adrenaline shot for the entire industry. What makes this success story truly jaw-dropping is how the makers played their cards; while the first installment in 2025 was a purely Hindi release that raked in an impressive 1,307.35 crore, the sequel was unleashed in multiple languages. This strategic pivot allowed the film to set new benchmarks that have left many in awe as it claimed the second spot in the all-time global rankings. The financial picture here is nothing short of incredible. When you consider that both films were made on a combined budget of 255 crore, the return on investment is frankly in a league of its own. We are looking at a franchise that has generated over 3,100 crore in total worldwide gross across both chapters. To put the domestic craze into perspective, the film has seen over 4 crore footfalls, making it the first original Hindi-led project to command that kind of crowd since Gadar back in 2001. Also the sequel's 1.83 crore ticket sales on BookMyShow have pushed the franchise's total to over 6.8 crore tickets across India, reflecting the massive scale of its audience reach.Such is the trend the franchise has set that it may take years for these records to be broken. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Even as it enters its tenth weekend, the film is showing no signs of a complete burnout. In fact, the tenth-weekend performance saw a total net collection of 0.83 crore across 691 shows in India. The momentum peaked on Sunday (Day 67) with a net of 0.40 crore, marking a 33.3 percent jump from the previous day. The occupancy levels followed a similar trend, starting at 21 percent on Friday and climbing to a healthy 36 percent on Sunday. National chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis saw a surge in volume as well, with ticket sales jumping from 1,318 on Friday to 3,798 on Sunday. By the end of this weekend, over 7,300 tickets were added to the kitty from these chains alone, suggesting the film still has some legs left. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge - Week-wise India Net CollectionWEEKCOLLECTION (NET)Week 1₹ 674.17 CrWeek 2₹ 263.65 CrWeek 3₹ 110.60 CrWeek 4₹ 54.70 CrWeek 5₹ 19.52 CrWeek 6₹ 12.45 CrWeek 7₹ 5.58 CrWeek 8₹ 3.89 CrWeek 9₹ 2.19 Cr10th Weekend₹ 0.83 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The multi-lingual approach for the sequel paid off handsomely, allowing the film to penetrate markets that Part 1 could not reach. While the Hindi version remains the primary driver, the contributions from the Southern states have helped push the total India net to 1,147.58 crore.Based on current trends, we expect the film to conclude its theatrical journey with a lifetime global haul of approximately 1,803 crore or may be 1,805 crore ,safely securing its place as a historical benchmark for Indian cinema. Here is how the regional breakdown looks: Hindi: ₹1,079.04 Cr Telugu: ₹43.07 Cr Tamil: ₹19.83 Cr Kannada: ₹3.87 Cr Malayalam: ₹1.77 Cr This global dominance was further cemented by a strong showing overseas, where the film grossed a total of 426.67 crore. International audiences were clearly drawn to the high-quality VFX, as roughly 18 percent of overseas revenue came from premium formats like IMAX and 4DX. As the theatrical run begins to wind down, the focus is now shifting toward the small screen. The digital premiere on JioHotstar on June 4 will feature a special Raw and Undekha cut, including 20 minutes of extra footage that wasn't shown in theaters. This extended version is expected to keep the conversation going long after the film leaves the big screen. The financial health of this duology is arguably its most impressive feat. The producers managed both films on a combined budget of just 255 crore, making the return on investment frankly in a league of its own. We are looking at a franchise that has generated over 3,107 crore in total worldwide gross across both chapters. This success was not limited to the box office; the makers also pulled off a masterstroke with digital rights. While Part 1 remained with Netflix for a revised value of 85 crore, the makers leveraged the sequel's hype to secure a separate, staggering 150 crore deal with JioHotstar. This pushed their total digital revenue to 235 crore, nearly covering the entire production cost of the franchise through streaming alone.

Akshay Kumar To Headline Sci-Fi Alien Thriller Samuk For Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah Bollywood
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Akshay Kumar To Headline Sci-Fi Alien Thriller Samuk For Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 24 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is gearing up for a major genre shift as he reportedly joins hands with producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah for an ambitious sci-fi alien thriller titled Samuk. The film is expected to mark Akshay's first full-fledged attempt at the alien-horror genre, a space that remains largely unexplored in mainstream Indian cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Kanishk Varma, the project is already generating significant buzz for its scale and international collaborations. According to the report by Hindustan Times, Samuk is being mounted as a high-concept thriller with a strong emphasis on practical effects and immersive action, with shooting scheduled to begin in August 2026. The makers have reportedly roped in Hollywood stunt coordinator Luke Tumber, who has previously worked on global blockbusters like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Venom, and No Time To Die. The inclusion of international technicians suggests that the team is aiming to deliver a visually grand cinematic experience with global production standards. The film is also said to feature creature effects designed by acclaimed Hollywood artist Alec Gillis, known for his work on iconic franchises such as Alien and Predator. Instead of relying entirely on CGI-heavy visuals, the makers are reportedly focusing on practical alien effects to create a more realistic, terrifying atmosphere. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This approach is expected to give Samuk a unique visual identity compared to conventional Indian sci-fi films. For Akshay Kumar, the film marks another attempt to explore fresh territory after experimenting with genres ranging from social dramas to historical epics and action entertainers over the years. Samuk will also reunite the actor with Vipul Amrutlal Shah after more than a decade. The duo previously collaborated on successful films like Namastey London, Waqt: The Race Against Time, and Action Replayy. While the makers are yet to announce the film officially, the project has already emerged as one of the most anticipated upcoming ventures in Akshay Kumar's lineup. Meanwhile, Akshay will next be seen in Welcome To The Jungle (Welcome), which is scheduled to release on June 26, 2026.

Ranbir Kapoor, Yash's Ramayana Part 1 To Reportedly Release On October 30, 2026 Bollywood
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Ranbir Kapoor, Yash's Ramayana Part 1 To Reportedly Release On October 30, 2026

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 23 - Producer Namit Malhotra is reportedly planning a major release strategy for the highly-awaited epic Ramayana: Part 1, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash. The makers are said to be contemplating preponing the film's release to maximise its box office potential during the festive season. According to the report by Bollywood Hungama, the Nitesh Tiwari-directed magnum opus is now eyeing an October 30, 2026, theatrical release, which is a week before the Diwali festivities. The strategy is said to be aimed at allowing the film to build strong word-of-mouth before the extended holiday period kicks in, potentially resulting in a massive second-week surge at the box office. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Initially planned for a Diwali 2026 release, the makers reportedly believe that arriving a week earlier could give the film a longer uninterrupted run during the festive season, given that no other major release will be released during this time. The report further states that internal discussions regarding the revised date are currently underway, and a final decision will be taken once the distribution negotiations are locked. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, and Yash as Ravana. The film also features Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Laxman, along with others. Mounted on a gigantic scale by Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations, the project is being positioned as one of the most ambitious Indian films ever made. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Recently, it was also reported that the makers are in talks for a massive theatrical distribution deal worth around 450 crore, highlighting the enormous expectations surrounding the film. Given the scale, visual ambition, and star cast, trade experts expect the film to emerge as one of the biggest box office events in Indian cinema history. The buzz around the film has been consistently growing ever since the first official glimpses and casting confirmations surfaced online. While the October 30 release date is yet to be officially announced by the makers, the latest developments indicate that the team is actively exploring the possibility of arriving earlier than originally planned to fully capitalise on the festive window.

Raja Shivaji Box Office: Riteish Deshmukh's Historical Epic Downs Sairat To Become Highest-Grossing Marathi Film Bollywood
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Raja Shivaji Box Office: Riteish Deshmukh's Historical Epic Downs Sairat To Become Highest-Grossing Marathi Film

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 22 - The decade-long record of director Nagraj Manjule's social romantic tragedy Sairat has finally been broken as Riteish Deshmukh's historical epic Raja Shivaji has become the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time, taking just 22 days to achieve the historic feat. Produced by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, Raja Shivaji minted around 109.35 crores worldwide in three weeks (21 days), and it has surpassed the total gross of Sairat (110 crores) at the time of writing this piece to become the number 1 Marathi grosser ever. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Raja Shivaji, however, received support from its Hindi dubbed version, unlike Sairat, which was purely a Marathi-language release. Directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, the blockbuster has grossed approximately 29 crores from the Hindi version and over 76 crores gross from the original Marathi version in 21 days, while the overseas contribution stands at an estimated 4.20 crores so far. Released on May 1 on the occasion of Maharashtra Day, Raja Shivaji opened to record-breaking numbers with approximately 13.85 crores worldwide on its first day. The film remained exceptionally strong throughout the opening weekend, collecting around 41.65 crores worldwide in its first three days, setting a new benchmark for Marathi cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The historical action drama, based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, showed a solid hold during the weekdays of its initial week. However, mixed word of mouth impacted the film's long-term theatrical run, with collections beginning to slow down after the second weekend. The 150 crores worldwide milestone, which looked possible after the huge opening weekend, now appears out of reach. Despite the slowdown, Raja Shivaji is still expected to finish its theatrical run close to the 125 crores mark, which would be a solid result for a regional-language title. The film has performed excellently in Maharashtra, where the subject and emotional connect with audiences helped it emerge as one of the biggest Marathi blockbusters ever produced. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Highest-Grossing Marathi Films S. No. Movie Worldwide Gross 1 Raja Shivaji (2026) ₹ 110+ Cr* (22D) 2 Sairat (2016) ₹ 110 Cr 3 Baipan Bhari Deva (2023) ₹ 90.50 Cr 4 Ved (2022) ₹ 73 Cr 5 Natsamrat (2016) ₹ 46 Cr*